How many people are detained or returned?
Published 24 August 2017
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This publication is available at https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/immigration-statistics-april-to-june-2017/how-many-people-are-detained-or-returned
Immigration Statistics April to June 2017 content page.
This is not the latest release. View latest release.
Data relate to year ending June 2017 and all comparisons are with year ending June 2016, unless indicated otherwise.
This section covers statistics on individuals held in immigration detention (solely under Immigration Act powers) for a variety of reasons, including reasons within and outside the control of the Home Office. These figures show only those detained in immigration removal centres (IRCs), short term holding facilities (STHF) and pre departure accommodation (PDA). In addition, figures in this section relate to returns of people, by the Home Office, who do not have any legal right to stay in the UK.
1. Key facts
The number of people entering detention in year ending June 2017 decreased by 12% to 27,819 from 31,593 in the previous year. Over the same period there was a 13% decrease in those people leaving detention (from 32,067 to 27,862).
As at the end of June 2017, 2,994 (of which, 2 were children) people were in detention, 4% more than the number recorded at the end of June 2016 (2,878). In addition, as at 26 June 2017, there were 360 detainees held in prison establishments in England and Wales solely under immigration powers as set out in the Immigration Act 1971 or UK Borders Act 2007.
The number of children entering detention in year ending June 2017 was 48, 65% lower than the previous year (137). This was a 96% fall compared with the beginning of the data series in 2009 (1,119).
The proportion of detainees being returned or voluntarily departing from the UK on leaving detention increased from 44% in year ending June 2016 to 48% in year ending June 2017.
The total number of enforced returns from the UK, including those not directly from detention, decreased by 3% to 12,542 in the year ending June 2017 compared with 12,944 in the previous year. This includes 10,642 enforced removals and 1,900 other returns from detention. In the same period, there were 22,822 voluntary returns (excluding returns from detention).
Of the 12,542 enforced returns in year ending June 2017, there were 1,970 enforced removals of people who had previously sought asylum, down 30% from the previous year (2,813).
In the year ending June 2017, provisional data show that 6,071 Foreign National Offenders (FNOs) were returned compared to 6,064 in the previous year (see Returns table rt_06q). This is the one of the highest number since the series began in 2009 and reflects increasing use of other forms of FNO returns, including those where an offence was committed outside the UK.
2. People entering detention and number of enforced returns from the UK
| Entering detention | Total enforced returns (1) | Total enforced removals (2) | Other returns from detention(3) | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Year ending June 2015 | 32,053 | 14,093 | 12,631 | 1,462 |
| Year ending June 2016 | 31,593 | 12,944 | 11,408 | 1,536 |
| Year ending June 2017 | 27,819 | 12,542 | 10,642 | 1,900 |
| Change: latest year | -3,774 | -402 | -766 | +364 |
| Percentage change | -12% | -3% | -7% | +24% |
Table notes
Source: Home Office, Immigration Statistics April to June 2017, Detention table dt 05 q and Returns table rt 01 q.
(1) Total enforced returns covers enforced removals from detention, non-detained enforced removals and other returns from detention where the Home Office will have been required to facilitate or monitor the return. The detained figures relate to those detained in IRCs, STHF and PDA.
(2) Enforced removals include enforced removals from detention and non-detained enforced removals.
(3) Other returns from detention relate to those occurring either from detention or up to 2 days after leaving detention AND where it had been established that a person has breached UK immigration laws and/or have no valid leave to remain in the UK.
3. Length of detention
During the year ending June 2017, 27,862 people left detention. Of these, 64% had been in detention for less than 29 days, 17% for between 29 days and 2 months, and 11% for between 2 and 4 months. Of the 1,943 (7%) remaining, 172 had been in detention for between 1 and 2 years, and 28 for 2 years or longer. Of the 46 children leaving detention, 38 had been detained for seven days or less, three for between 8 and 14 days, three for between 15 and 28 days and two for between 29 days and 2 months.
In the same period, over a third (35%) of people leaving detention had been detained for 7 days or less (9,717). Of these, 56% (5,401) were returned; 42% (4,100) were granted temporary admission or release (TA/TR); and the remainder were either bailed (52), granted leave to enter (LTE) or leave to remain (LTR) (38), or released for other reasons (126). Of the 200 people detained for 12 months or more, 33% were bailed, 32% were returned, and 32% were granted TA/TR.
As at 30 June 2017, the longest length of time a person had been currently detained for was 1,514 days.
4. People leaving detention, by nationality
In the year ending June 2017, 27,862 people left detention. Indian nationals accounted for the highest number of people leaving (2,498), a decrease of 23% compared with year ending June 2016 (3,261).
Top 5 nationalities of people leaving detention, year ending June 2017
| Nationality | Leaving detention | % Returned on leaving detention | % Granted TA/TR on leaving detention |
|---|---|---|---|
| India | 2,498 | 30% | 56% |
| Pakistan | 2,364 | 31% | 54% |
| Albania | 2,191 | 77% | 14% |
| Romania | 1,771 | 95% | 2% |
| Nigeria | 1,427 | 32% | 44% |
Table notes
Source: Home Office, Immigration Statistics April to June 2017, Detention table dt 08 q.
Returned on leaving detention includes enforced returns, voluntary returns and refused entry at port and subsequently departed.
4. Returns by nationality
The highest number of enforced returns in the year ending June 2017 was for Romanian nationals (1,847; 15% of the total), of which 1,725 (93%) were returned home. The number of enforced returns for Albanian nationals has been decreasing since October 2016 and is now ranked second after Romania. Some of these returns may relate to specific enforcement activity related to specific groups of individuals from these countries.
Top 5 nationalities for returns, year ending June 2017
| Nationality | Total enforced returns (1) | of which: | Enforced removal (2) | Other returns from detention (3) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Romania | 1,847 | 1,616 | 231 | |
| Albania | 1,620 | 1,260 | 360 | |
| Poland | 1,316 | 1,278 | 38 | |
| India | 800 | 587 | 213 | |
| Pakistan | 738 | 526 | 212 |
Table notes
Source: Home Office, Immigration Statistics April to June 2017, Returns table rt 02 q.
(1) Total enforced returns covers enforced removals from detention, non-detained enforced removals and other returns from detention where the Home Office will have been required to facilitate or monitor the return. This new grouping has been created to reflect the likely level of enforcement activity that led to these returns.
(2) Enforced removals include enforced removals from detention and non-detained enforced removals.
(3) Other returns from detention relate to those returns occurring either from detention or up to two days after leaving detention AND where it had been established that a person has breached UK immigration laws and/or have no valid leave to remain in the UK.
The largest number of passengers refused entry at port and subsequently departed were United States (US) nationals (1,600; 9% of the total), of which 1,031 (64%) were returned home. US citizens (and Brazilian nationals, the third largest number) who are not coming to the UK for work or for 6 months or more do not need to apply for, and be issued with, a visa prior to arrival; therefore, the first time that they can be refused entry will be on arrival in the UK.
5. Enforced returns of EU nationals
EU nationals may be returned for not exercising, or abusing, Treaty rights or for deportation on public policy grounds (such as criminality).
There were 20% more enforced returns (5,301) of EU nationals in the year ending June 2017 compared with the previous 12 months (4,424), and 26% more EU nationals were refused entry at port and who subsequently departed (2,726 compared to 2,158). Nationals of Romania and Poland counted for 60% of EU enforced returns compared to 57% the same time a year ago.
Enforced returns of EU nationals, year ending June 2017
| Year | Total enforced returns (1) | of which: | Total enforced removals (2) | Other returns from detention (3) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Year ending June 2015 | 3,435 | 3,402 | 33 | |
| Year ending June 2016 | 4,424 | 4,329 | 95 | |
| Year ending June 2017 | 5,301 | 4,918 | 383 | |
| Change: latest year | +877 | +589 | +288 | |
| Percentage change | +20% | +14% | +303% |
Table notes
Source: Home Office, Immigration Statistics April to June 2017, Returns table rt 02q (Returns volume 1).
(1) Total enforced returns covers enforced removals from detention, non-detained enforced removals and other returns from detention where the Home Office will have been required to facilitate or monitor the return. This new grouping has been created to reflect the likely level of enforcement activity that led to these returns.
(2) Enforced removals include enforced removals from detention and non-detained enforced removals.
(3) Other returns from detention relate to those returns occurring either from detention or up to two days after leaving detention AND where it had been established that a person has breached UK immigration laws and/or have no valid leave to remain in the UK.
6. Data tables
Data referred to here can be found in the following tables:
Returns tables volume 1
Returns tables volume 2
Returns tables volume 3
Returns tables volume 4
Returns tables volume 5
Detention tables