Detention
Updated 26 May 2016
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This publication is available at https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/immigration-statistics-january-to-march-2016/detention
Valid: 26 May 2016 to 24 August 2016
All data below relate to year ending March 2016 and all comparisons are with year ending March 2015, unless indicated otherwise.
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1. Key facts
The number of people entering detention in year ending March 2016 increased by 4% to 32,163 from 30,902 in the previous year.
Over the same period there was an 8% increase in those people leaving detention (from 30,326 to 32,610). There was a continuing decline in the proportion of detainees being removed or voluntarily departing the UK on leaving detention in the year ending March 2015 of 51% to 45% in year ending March 2016. Conversely, there was an increase in the proportion of detainees granted temporary admission or release (TA/TR), from 39% to 44%.
As at the end of March 2016, 2,925 people were in detention, 16% lower than the number recorded at the end of March 2015 (3,483). The fall may be partially attributed to the closure of Haslar IRC in April 2015 and Dover IRC in October 2015, and changes to the detained fast track asylum process, as well as changes in the numbers of people requiring detention.
2. People entering, leaving and in detention, solely under Immigration Act powers
| Year | Entering detention | Leaving detention | In detention (1) |
|---|---|---|---|
| year ending March 2012 | 27,594 | 27,197 | 3,034 |
| year ending March 2013 | 28,732 | 28,773 | 2,853 |
| year ending March 2014 | 30,108 | 29,792 | 2,991 |
| year ending March 2015 | 30,902 | 30,326 | 3,483 |
| year ending March 2016 | 32,163 | 32,610 | 2,925 |
| Change: latest year | +1,261 | +2,284 | -558 |
| Percentage change | +4% | +8% | -16% |
Table notes
Source: Home Office, Immigration Statistics January to March 2016, Detention tables dt 01 q, dt 05 q and dt 11 q.
(1) The ‘in detention’ figures are as at the end of March in each year.
3. People leaving detention by nationality
In the year ending March 2016, 32,610 people left detention. Pakistani nationals accounted for the highest number of people leaving (3,302), a decrease of 25% compared with year ending March 2015 (4,409).
Top 5 nationalities of people leaving detention, year ending March 2016
| Nationality | Leaving detention | % Removed on leaving detention | % Granted TA/TR on leaving detention |
|---|---|---|---|
| Pakistan | 3,302 | 39% | 48% |
| India | 3,237 | 38% | 49% |
| Albania | 1,997 | 78% | 15% |
| Bangladesh | 1,787 | 32% | 53% |
| Nigeria | 1,695 | 39% | 40% |
Table notes
Source: Home Office, Immigration Statistics January to March 2016, Detention table dt 08 q.
3.1 EU nationals leaving detention
3,913 nationals of the European Union left detention in year ending March 2016, 41% more than in year ending March 2015 (2,779). The largest number was of Romanian nationals (1,162; 4% of the total of all nationalities leaving detention). The second and third largest groups were Polish nationals (986; 3% of the total) and Lithuanian nationals (570; 2% of the total).
The proportion of EU nationals being removed or voluntarily departing the UK on leaving detention in year ending March 2016 was 89%, compared with 39% for non EU nationals.
4. Reasons for people leaving detention
There was a continuing decline in the proportion of detainees being removed or voluntarily departing the UK on leaving detention, from the most recent peak in the year ending March 2011 of 64% to 45% in year ending March 2016. Conversely, there was an increase in the proportion of detainees granted temporary admission or release, from 28% to 44%, and an increase in the proportion of detainees granted bail, from 6% to 9%, over the same period.
Information from a one-off exercise on people removed or who voluntarily departed from the UK on leaving detention, by removal or departure type can be found in Immigration Statistics October to December 2015, detention topic. In 2015, of the 15,086 people removed on leaving detention, 70% were enforced removals, 19% were refused entry at port and subsequently removed and 10% left voluntarily.
Reasons for people leaving detention (%)
Chart notes
Source: Home Office, Immigration Statistics January to March 2016, Detention table dt 08 q.
Granted LTE/LTR (leave to enter / leave to remain); Granted TA/TR (temporary admission / temporary release). More detailed information on reasons for leaving detention may be found in the user guide.
5. Length of detention
During year ending March 2016, 32,610 people left detention. Of these, 63% had been in detention for less than 29 days, 18% for between 29 days and two months and 11% for between two and four months. Of the 2,325 (7%) remaining, 249 had been in detention for between one and two years and 43 for two years or longer.
In the same period over a third (36%) of people leaving detention had been detained for seven days or less (11,635). Of these, 49% (5,748) were granted temporary admission or release, 48% (5,593) were removed, and the remaining 3% were bailed (72) or granted leave to enter or remain (51). Of the 292 detained for 12 months or more, 38% were removed, 35% were bailed and 24% were granted temporary admission or release.
6. Children in detention
The number of children entering detention in year ending March 2016 was 110, 24% lower than the previous year (144). This was a 90% fall compared with the beginning of the data series in 2009 (1,119).
Of the 113 children leaving detention in year ending March 2016, 33 were removed from the UK and 77 were granted temporary admission or temporary release. Of those leaving detention, 104 had been detained for seven days or less, two for between 8 and 14 days, four for between 15 and 28 days, two for between 29 days and 2 months and one for over 3 months. There were no children in detention as at 31 March 2016.
7. Children entering detention, solely under Immigration Act powers
Chart notes
Source: Home Office, Immigration Statistics January to March 2016, Detention table dt 02 q.
8. Immigration detainees in prisons
As at 28 March 2016, there were 363 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.
9. Data tables
Further data on detention are available in Detention tables dt 01 to dt 13 q.
10. Background information
The figures in this topic brief relate to the number of people entering, leaving or in detention, solely under Immigration Act powers, at immigration removal centres (IRCs), short-term holding facilities (STHFs) and pre-departure accommodation (PDA).
10.1 Migration Transparency Data webpage
A range of key input and impact indicators are currently published by the Home Office on the Migration transparency data webpage.