New data shows there have been nearly 30,000 returns of people since the general election as the Home Office releases new footage of people being kicked out
Nearly 30,000 failed asylum seekers and foreign criminals have been kicked out of the UK since the general election, new figures show.
The Home Office has released footage of 47 people arriving in Albania after authorities found they had no right to be in the country. Home Secretary Yvette Cooper said removals had been ramped up, with a 23% rise in enforced returns after the Tories left the asylum system in chaos.
And the number of criminals from overseas has gone up by 14% since July 5 last year, when Labour came to power, the data reveals. Ms Cooper said: “The rules need to be respected and enforced.
“That is why we have substantially increased immigration enforcement – taking strong action to return more foreign criminals and failed asylum seekers who have no right to be in the UK. The work of Immigration Enforcement teams to substantially increase illegal working raids, returns and deportations is an important part of strengthening our border security.”
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Home Office figures show there were 29,867 returns between July 5 last year and May 18 this year. This included 7,893 enforced returns of people with no legal right to remain in the UK. There were 4,436 foreign national offenders (FNOs) kicked out and 8,511 asylum related returns.
Earlier this month the Government released a white paper outlinng Labour’s plan to drive down net migration. It includes proposals to widen the range of offences that can result in deportation. Ms Cooper said: “As part of the Immigration White Paper reforms, we will strengthen the rules so that more foreign national offenders can be returned.”
The latest clip shows dozens of men, some covering their faces, arriving in Albanian capital Tirana. The UK has a returns agreement with the Balkan state, with the number of small boat arrivals from Albania dropping by 95% in three years.
In February the Government sparked a backlash after releasing footage of migrants in handcuffs being forced onto deportation flights. Critics branded it “performative”, but minister Dame Angela Eagle said it was “important that we show what we are doing”.
The Home Office said the four biggest removal charter flights in UK history have taken off under the current Government, with 850 people onboard. Foreign Secretary David Lammy said: “Through close collaboration with partners like Albania, we are stepping up our efforts to return those with no right to be in the UK to their countries of origin.”
He said international cooperation is “central” to the Government’s approach to illegal migration. Earlier this week the landmark agreement with the EU committed the UK and Europe to working together on removals.