When Theresa May was home secretary she signed fair trial guarantees with Jordan to ensure evidence that might have been obtained by torture would not be used against the cleric Abu Qatada

Thousands of European criminals face deportation after Brexit as Theresa May makes the issue a key demand in negotiations.

The prime minister will today present her detailed plans to grant three million citizens of EU states in Britain “settled status” and the right to live in the UK — as long as Britons in Europe receive an equivalent deal.

However, Mrs May is expected to exempt “serious and persistent” criminals from that assurance. These are likely to include people guilty of violent crimes and sex and drug offences. The government’s post-Brexit immigration regime is also likely to impose tighter curbs on the abilities of convicts from EU countries to enter Britain.

Separately, ministers also indicated that they would be willing to continue paying the roughly