How many people are detained or returned?
Published 25 May 2017
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This publication is available at https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/immigration-statistics-january-to-march-2017/how-many-people-are-detained-or-returned
Back to Immigration Statistics January to March 2017 content page.
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Data relate to year ending March 2017 and all comparisons are with year ending March 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 March 2017 decreased by 10% to 28,980 from 32,164 in the previous year. Over the same period there was an 11% decrease in those people leaving detention (from 32,640 to 28,897).
As at the end of March 2017, 2,930 people were in detention, similar to the number recorded at the end of March 2016 (2,925). As at 3 April 2017, there were 337 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 proportion of detainees being returned or voluntarily departing the UK on leaving detention increased from 45% in year ending March 2016 to 48% in year ending March 2017.
The total number of enforced returns from the UK, including those not directly from detention, decreased by 4% to 12,666 in the year ending March 2017 compared with 13,248 in the previous year. This includes 10,969 enforced removals and 1,697 other returns from detention. In the same period, there were 24,786 voluntary returns (excluding returns from detention).
Of the 12,666 enforced returns in year ending March 2017, there were 2,352 enforced returns of people who had previously sought asylum, down 26% from the previous year (3,169).
In the year ending March 2017, provisional data show that 6,171 Foreign National Offenders (FNOs) were returned compared to 5,810 in the previous year (up 6%)(see Returns table rt_06q). This is 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 leaving detention and number of enforced returns from the UK
| Entering detention | Total enforced returns (1) | Of which: Total enforced removals (2) | Of which: Other returns from detention(3) | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Year ending March 2015 | 30,902 | 14,125 | 12,669 | 1,456 |
| Year ending March 2016 | 32,164 | 13,248 | 11,684 | 1,564 |
| Year ending March 2017 | 28,980 | 12,666 | 10,969 | 1,697 |
| Change: latest year | -3,184 | -582 | -715 | +133 |
| Percentage change | -10% | -4% | -6% | +9% |
Table notes
Source: Home Office, Immigration Statistics January to March 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. 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).
| Year | Total enforced returns (1) | Of which: Total enforced removals (2) | Of which: Other returns from detention (3) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Year ending March 2015 | 3,242 | 3,215 | 27 |
| Year ending March 2016 | 4,113 | 4,023 | 90 |
| Year ending March 2017 | 5,230 | 4,954 | 276 |
| Change: latest year | +1,117 | +931 | +186 |
| Percentage change | +27% | +23% | +207% |
Table notes
Source: Home Office, Immigration Statistics January to March 2017, Returns table rt 02 (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.
4. 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