National statistics

How many people are detained or returned?

Published 27 February 2020

Back to ‘Immigration statistics, year ending December 2019’ content page.

This is not the latest release. View latest release.

Data in this section relate to the year ending December 2019 and all comparisons are with the year ending December 2018, unless indicated otherwise. A more detailed annual summary can be found in ‘Immigration statistics, year ending June 2019 second edition’.

This section contains data on:

• Individuals detained in the Home Office detention estate and HM Prisons solely under Immigration Act powers; the detention estate comprises immigration removal centres (IRC), short-term holding facilities (STHF) and pre-departure accommodation (PDA)
• Returns of people who do not have any legal right to stay in the UK

1. Immigration detention

The number of people entering detention in 2019 was similar to the previous year at 24,443. Prior to this, there had been a downward trend since 2015.

The majority (84%) of those entering detention in 2019 were non-EU nationals. The number of non-EU nationals entering detention fell from a peak of 29,424 in the year ending September 2015 to 20,578 in the year ending December 2018 and has remained stable over the latest year (20,501).

The number of EU nationals entering detention gradually increased between 2009 and 2017. However, numbers have since fallen to 3,942, falling 21% between 2017 and 2018 and a further 6% between 2018 and 2019.

Albanians were the most common nationality entering detention in the latest year, accounting for 14% of the total (3,477) and a 29% increase on the previous year. The number of Iranian nationals entering detention more than doubled to 1,758, moving from the 11th to 2nd highest nationality entering immigration detention. These changes have occurred at a time when the UK has also seen increasing numbers of asylum applications from these nationalities.

As at 31 December 2019, there were 1,637 people in immigration detention, 8% fewer than on 31 December 2018, and fewer than half the number as at 30 September 2017.

Figure 1: People entering detention under immigration powers in the UK, by nationality, 2010 to 2019¹

Source: Immigration detention – Det_D01

Notes:

1. Prior to July 2017, those entering detention in prisons would not be counted in the entering figures until they entered the detention estate. These cases are now included when entering immigration detention in prison. This means those entering through prisons will be recorded earlier than previously, and those who were not moved from the prison to the detention estate would not previously have been counted.

Table 1: People entering, leaving and in detention² under immigration powers in the UK, 2018 to 2019¹

Year	Entering detention	Leaving detention	In detention
2018	24,773	25,499	1,784
2019	24,443	24,512	1,637
Change: latest year	-330	-987	-147
Percentage change	-1%	-4%	-8%

Source: Immigration detention – Det_D01, Det_D02 and Det_D03

Note:

1. Detained under immigration powers in either the immigration detention estate or a prison.
2. Data on those in detention are as at 31 December.

1.1 Leaving detention

In 2019, 24,512 people left the detention estate (down 4%), a similar number to those entering. Almost two-fifths (39%) had been detained for 7 days or less, and three-quarters (74%) detained for 28 days or less. There has been an increase in the proportion of people leaving detention within 28 days, from 69% in 2018 to 74% in the current year.

Two per cent of detainees (517) leaving detention in 2019 had been detained for more than 6 months. The Home Office would usually only detain someone for more than 6 months if they are a foreign national offender (FNO), or if they have subsequently claimed asylum while in detention. A further 167 people currently in detention have been detained for more than 6 months.

Figure 2: People leaving immigration detention, by length of detention¹, 2015 to 2019

Source: Immigration detention – Det_D03

Notes:

1. Data from July 2017 includes those leaving detention through HM Prisons. Data are not directly comparable with previous years. See the user guide for more details.
2. ‘ < ’ means ‘less than’.

Of those leaving detention, 61% received bail (either Secretary of State (SoS) or Immigration Judge (IJ)), 37% were returned from the UK to either their country of origin or another foreign country, and 2% left for other reasons (including being granted leave to enter or remain in the UK).

The proportion of people who were returned from the UK to their country of origin or another foreign country on leaving detention has fallen from 64% in the year ending March 2011 to 37% in the year ending December 2019. EU nationals were more likely to be returned on leaving detention than non-EU nationals (85% compared with 28%).

Among the top 10 nationalities leaving detention in 2019, there were differences in whether people were granted bail or returned from the UK. For example, 92% (1,587) of Iranian and 89% (1,086) of Iraqi nationals were granted bail. In contrast, 95% (1,422) of Romanians and 91% (1,244) of Brazilians were returned from the UK. Changes in the proportion of people returned who receive bail or who are returned from the UK will therefore partly reflect changes in the mix of nationalities who are detained.

Figure 3: Top 10 nationalities¹ leaving detention by reason for leaving², 2019

Source: Immigration detention – Det_D03

Notes:

1. Top 10 nationalities in the most recent year.
2. Other reasons for leaving detention include being sectioned under the Mental Health Act, entering criminal detention, being granted leave to enter or remain in the UK, and detained in error. See the user guide for more details.

2. Returns

In 2019, enforced returns from the UK fell to 7,361, 22% lower than the previous year and the lowest number since records began in 2004. The fall was largely accounted for by the fall in enforced returns of people who were in detention prior to their return (down 19% to 5,033).

Over the same period, there were 11,421 voluntary departures. Although these data are not directly comparable over time (as voluntary returns are subject to upward revision, as in some cases it can take time to identify people who have left the UK without informing the Home Office) the numbers recorded have fallen since 2015.

There were 17,815 passengers who were refused entry at port and subsequently departed, 8% lower than in 2018 and similar to levels seen in 2015 and 2016.

Figure 4: Returns from the UK, by type of return¹, 2010 to 2019

Source: Returns – Ret_D01

Notes:

1. ‘Voluntary returns’ include ‘verified returns’ which are subject to upward revision (particularly for the last 12 months) as in some cases it can take time to identify people who have left the UK without informing the Home Office. Provisional data are denoted with an ‘X’ in the chart.

Table 2: Returns from the UK, by type^1,2 of return, by nationality³, 2015 to 2019

	2015	2016	2017	2018	2019	Change: latest year	Percentage change
Enforced returns	13,690	12,469	12,049	9,405	7,361	-2,044	-22%
EU	3,848	4,905	4,914	3,783	3,498	-285	-8%
Non-EU	9,842	7,564	7,135	5,622	3,863	-1,759	-31%
Voluntary returns	28,189	27,157	20,502	15,323	11,421	:	:
EU	669	775	724	254	107	:	:
Non-EU	27,520	26,382	19,778	15,069	11,314	:	:
Refused entry at port who subsequently departed	17,636	17,567	18,179	19,260	17,815	-1,445	-8%
EU	1,918	2,272	3,751	3,195	2,601	-594	-19%
Non-EU	15,718	15,295	14,428	16,065	15,214	-851	-5%

Source: Returns – Ret_D01

Notes:

1. ‘Enforced returns’ cover 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.
2. ‘Voluntary returns’ are subject to significant upward revision as matching checks are made on travellers after departure. ‘Voluntary returns’ also include a variety of departures, including assisted voluntary returns, controlled returns and other verified returns (for example, through data matching). These data are not comparable over time, hence comparisons with the previous 12 months for voluntary returns have not been included in the table.
3. EU nationals may be returned for abusing or not exercising Treaty rights or for deportation on public policy grounds such as criminality.

The number of enforced returns of non-EU nationals has fallen over the last 10 years from around 14,800 in 2010, to around 3,900 in 2019. In contrast, returns of EU nationals increased, reaching a peak of 5,275 in the year ending March 2017, but has fallen since then to 3,498 in 2019.

As a result of these different trends, the proportion of enforced returns accounted for by EU nationals has increased from 6% in 2010 to 48% in the current year.

Figure 5: Enforced returns from the UK, by nationality¹, 2010 to 2019

Source: Returns – Ret_D01

Notes:

1. EU nationals may be returned for abusing or not exercising Treaty rights or for deportation on public policy grounds such as criminality.

The top 5 nationalities accounted for 53% of the total enforced returns in 2019 – (Romania (18%), Albania (12%), Poland (9%), Brazil (8%) and Lithuania (6%)).

Within the top 5 nationalities, Albanian nationals showed the largest decrease in enforced returns compared with the previous year (down 45% to 880), bringing the level similar to that seen in 2013. This follows a large increase in returns between 2010 and 2016. In 2019, there was an increase in the number of enforced returns of Romanian (up 6% to 1,344) and Brazilian nationals (up 71% to 625).

Table 3: Top 5 nationalities¹ who had enforced returns² from the UK, 2018 and 2019

Nationality	2018	2019	Change	Percentage Change
Romania	1,266	1,344	+78	+6%
Albania	1,595	880	-715	-45%
Poland	828	657	-171	-21%
Brazil	366	625	+259	+71%
Lithuania	488	427	-61	-13%
Other nationalities3	4,862	3,428	-1,434	-29%
*Total	9,405	7,361	-2,044	-22%

Source: Returns – Ret_D01

Notes:

1. Top 5 nationalities in the most recent year.
2. ‘Enforced returns’ cover 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.
3. ‘Other nationalities’ includes all nationalities that do not feature in the top 5 in the latest year.

The largest number of recorded voluntary returns was of Indian nationals (1,816, or 16% of the total), followed by Chinese (1,051, or 9%) and Pakistani nationals (1,049, or 9%). These nationalities accounted for over one-third (34%) of the total recorded voluntary returns (11,421).

The largest number of passengers refused entry at port and subsequently departed were Brazilian nationals (2,152, or 12% of the total), followed by Albanians (1,356, or 8%) and Romanians (1,261, or 7%). These three nationalities, which also feature within the top 4 nationalities for enforced returns, accounted for 27% of the total number of passengers refused entry at port and subsequently departed (17,815).

2.1 Returns of foreign national offenders (FNOs)

In 2019, 5,110 FNOs were returned from the UK, 7% less than the previous year. These figures are included in the total returns figures and constitute 27% of enforced and voluntary returns, with the majority being enforced returns.

Of the 5,110 FNOs returned from the UK in 2019:

• Just over two-thirds (68%) were EU nationals (3,489), a number which includes those who abuse or do not exercise Treaty rights and those deported on public policy grounds such as criminality
• Almost one-third (32%) were non-EU nationals (1,621)

Figure 6: Returns of FNOs¹ from the UK, by nationality, 2010 to 2019

Source: Returns – Summary tables

Notes:

1. An FNO is someone who is not a British citizen and is/was convicted in the UK of any criminal offence, or abroad for a serious criminal offence.

3. About the statistics

3.1 Immigration detention

The statistics in this section show the number of entries into, and departures from, detention for those held solely under immigration powers. One individual may enter or leave detention multiple times in a given period and will therefore have been counted multiple times in the statistics. Statistics on foreign nationals held in prison for criminal offences are published by the Ministry of Justice in ‘Offender management statistics quarterly’.

Data on those entering detention, by place of detention, relate to the place of initial detention. An individual who moves from one part of the detention estate to another will not have been counted as entering any subsequent place of detention. The data, therefore, do not show the total number of people who entered each part of the detention estate.

Data on those in detention relate to those in detention on the last day of the quarter.

Data on those leaving detention, by place of detention, relate to the place of detention immediately prior to being released. An individual who moves from one part of the detention estate to another has not been counted as leaving each part of the detention estate. The data, therefore, do not show the total number of people who left each part of the detention estate.

From July 2017, data on detention of immigration detainees in prisons are included in the immigration detention figures. Previously, individuals who were detained in prison would have been recorded in the data upon entering the detention estate through an IRC, STHF or PDA; now they are recorded upon entering immigration detention within prison. As a result, the length of detention of those entering prison prior to July 2017 will be recorded from the point at which they entered an IRC, STHF or PDA. Time spent in prison under immigration powers prior to entering an IRC, STHF or PDA is not included in the length of detention figures prior to July 2017.

For those entering detention from July 2017, the length of detention will include time spent in prison under immigration powers prior to entering an IRC, STHF or PDA. Data from Q3 2017 onwards are therefore not directly comparable with earlier data. Further details of these changes can be found in the user guide.

Following the introduction of the new Immigration Bail in Schedule 10 of the Immigration Bill 2016, the reason for leaving detention ‘Bailed (SoS)’ replaced the existing powers of ‘granted temporary admission/release’ from 15 January 2018, and ‘Bailed (Immigration Judge)’ replaced ‘Bailed’ to differentiate from ‘Bailed (SoS)’. See the user guide for more details of this change.

Data on the number of children entering detention is subject to change. This will be a result of further evidence of an individual’s age coming to light, such as an age assessment.

3.2 Returns

The statistics in this section show the number of returns from the UK. One individual may have been returned more than once in a given period and, if that was the case, would be counted more than once in the statistics.

The Home Office seeks to return people who do not have a legal right to stay in the UK. This includes people who:

• Enter, or attempt to enter, the UK illegally (including people entering clandestinely and by means of deception on entry)
• Are subject to deportation action; for example, due to a serious criminal conviction
• Overstay their period of legal right to remain in the UK
• Breach their conditions of leave
• Have been refused asylum

The term ‘deportations’ refers to a legally-defined subset of returns, which are enforced either following a criminal conviction, or when it is judged that a person’s removal from the UK is conducive to the public good. The published statistics refer to enforced returns which include deportations, as well as cases where a person has breached UK immigration laws, and those removed under other administrative and illegal entry powers that have declined to leave voluntarily. Figures on deportations, which are a subset of enforced returns, are not separately available.

Data on voluntary returns are subject to significant upward revision, so comparisons over time should be made with caution. In some cases, individuals who have been told to leave the UK will not notify the Home Office of their departure from the UK. In such cases, it can take some time for the Home Office to become aware of such a departure and update the system. As a result, data for more recent periods will initially undercount the total number of returns. ‘Other verified returns’ are particularly affected by this.

Asylum-related returns relate to cases where there has been an asylum claim at some stage prior to the return. This will include asylum seekers whose asylum claims have been refused and who have exhausted any rights of appeal, those returned under third-country provisions, as well as those granted asylum/protection but removed for other reasons (such as criminality).

Data on the number of people returned from the UK from detention in the ‘immigration detention’ tables includes those who were refused entry at port in the UK who were subsequently detained and then departed the UK. Data on those returned from detention in the ‘returns’ tables do not include those refused entry at port, and so figures will be lower.

Data on returns, and requests for transfer out of the UK under the Dublin Regulation, by article and country of transfer, are available from the Asylum data tables Dub_D01. Further details on the Dublin Regulation are set out in the user guide.

EU nationals may be returned for abusing or not exercising Treaty rights or deported on public policy grounds (such as criminality).

Eurostat publishes a range of enforcement data from EU member states. These data can be used to make international comparisons.

3.3 The Windrush Scheme

The Windrush generation refers to people from Caribbean countries who were invited by the British government between 1948 and 1971 to migrate to the UK as it faced a labour shortage due to the destruction caused by World War II. Not all of these migrants have documentation confirming their immigration status and, therefore, some may have been dealt with under immigration powers.

Data relating to the Windrush compensation scheme are published as part of the Home Office Transparency data. Updates on the work of the Home Office in relation to Windrush, including official figures, have been provided to the Home Affairs Select Committee.

4. Data tables

Data referred to here can be found in the following tables:

• Immigration detention summary tables
• Detailed immigration detention datasets
• Returns summary tables
• Detailed returns datasets

4.1 Review of immigration enforcement data

The Home Office is reviewing the enforcement data that it publishes to ensure it provides a comprehensive overview of the enforcement system. The Home Office will launch a public consultation to enable users to inform future developments in enforcement statistics in 2020.

We welcome your feedback

If you have any comments or suggestions for the development of this report, please provide feedback by emailing MigrationStatsEnquiries@homeoffice.gov.uk. Please include the words ‘PUBLICATION FEEDBACK’ in the subject of your email.

See section 7 of the ‘About this release’ section for more details.