Returns
Published 25 August 2016
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This publication is available at https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/immigration-statistics-april-to-june-2016/returns
Valid: 25 August 2016 to 30 November 2016
Data below relate to year ending June 2016 and all comparisons are with year ending June 2015, unless indicated otherwise.
Back to ‘Immigration statistics April to June 2016’ content page.
This is not the latest release. View latest release.
1. Key facts
As a result of feedback from users, Home Office statisticians have revised the existing terminology and category groupings and a number of new categories have been devised (see table below). The underlying statistics collected have not been changed as a result of these clarifications.
Enforced returns from the UK decreased by 9% to 12,846 in year ending June 2016 compared with the previous 12-month period (14,093). This includes 11,311 enforced removals and 1,535 other returns from detention. For more information see the user guide.
In the year ending June 2016, there were 26,985 voluntary returns (excluding returns from detention) compared to 25,856 in the previous 12-month period.
The number of passengers refused entry at port and who subsequently departed increased by 9% in year ending June 2016 to 18,249 from 16,725 in year ending June 2015. The number of passengers refused entry at port and subsequently departing has been increasing since 2012.
In the year ending June 2016, provisional data show there were 5,891 returns of foreign national offenders (FNOs), using enforcement powers or via deportation. This is the highest number since the series began in 2009 and reflects increasing use of other forms of foreign national offender returns, including those where an offence was committed outside the UK.
2. Returns by type
| Year ending June 2015 | Year ending June 2016 | Change | Percentage change | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Total enforced returns(1) | 14,093 | 12,846 | -1,247 | -9% |
| of which: | ||||
| Enforced removals(2) | 12,631 | 11,311 | -1,320 | -10% |
| Other returns from detention(3) | 1,462 | 1,535 | +73 | +5% |
| Total voluntary returns (excluding returns from detention)(4) | 25,856 | 26,985 | - | - |
| Total refused entry at port and subsequently departed | 16,725 | 18,249 | +1,524 | +9% |
Table notes
Source: Home Office, Immigration Statistics April to June 2016, Returns table rt 01q.
(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) The figures for total voluntary returns are particularly subject to upward revision as matching checks are made on travellers after departure, so comparisons with the previous 12 months have not been included here due to the retrospective nature of data-matching exercises. These figures will be subject to upward revision in future releases and exclude returns from detention.
Of the 12,846 total enforced returns in the year ending June 2016, 78% were non-asylum cases (10,080), up from the previous 12-month period (9,658). Of these enforced returns, 11,440 (89%) were returned home, 1,095 (9%) were returned to an EU member state, and 311 (2%) to other and destination unknown. In the same period, there were 2,766 enforced returns of people who had previously sought asylum, down 38% from the previous year (4,435).
In the year ending June 2016, there were 26,985 voluntary returns (excluding returns from detention) of which 1,542 were voluntary returns of people who had previously sought asylum. These figures include individuals who have been identified as having overstayed their leave and who subsequently left the UK without informing the Home Office. This identification process enables the Home Office to focus better its resources on those who remain in the UK. Due to the retrospective nature of data-matching exercises, the data on voluntary returns are particularly subject to upward revision as additional checks are made on travellers after departure. Of the 26,985 voluntary returns (excluding returns from detention), 1,626 (6%) were returned to another EU member state.
The number of people refused entry at port and subsequently departed has been lower in recent years compared to when the current data series began (in 2004). There was a sharp decrease from 31,859 in the year ending June 2009 to 13,789 in the year ending December 2012. There is no single cause identified for this fall, but it will in part reflect differing mix in arrivals. For example, one-fifth (21%) of the decrease was due to a fall in the number of nationals of Afghanistan being refused entry and subsequently removed (-3,720). The overall falls are likely to be due to a combination of factors, including tighter screening of passengers prior to travel increased use of voluntary return, and changes in visa processes and regimes; for example, South African nationals have been required to have a visa for any length or type of visit to the UK since July 2009. Of the 18,249 people refused entry at port and subsequently departed, 5,789 (32%) were returned home, 10,954 (60%) were returned to an EU member state, and 1,506 (8%) to other and destination unknown.
3. Returns by nationality
The highest number of enforced returns in the year ending June 2016 was for Albanian nationals (1,510; 12% of the total), of which 1,416 (94%) were returned home. The second highest number were Romanian nationals (1,391; 11% of the total), of which 1,289 (93%) were also returned home; Romanians have also shown the largest increase (+444; +47%) compared to the previous 12 months. Some of these returns may relate to specific enforcement activity related to specific groups of individuals from these countries.
The largest number of passengers refused entry at port and subsequently departed were United States nationals (1,747; 10% of the total), of which 1,072 (61%) were returned home. United States citizens (and Brazilian nationals, the fourth largest number) who are not coming to the UK for work or for six 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. The second largest number was nationals of Iraq (1,436; 8% of the total) who were also the nationality recording the largest increase compared with the previous year (+1,345; +1,478%). Of the 1,436 Iraqi nationals, 1,407 (98%) were returned to an EU member state.
There were 26% more enforced returns (4,341) of nationals of other European Union member states in the year ending June 2016 compared with the previous 12 months (3,435) and 25% more EU nationals refused entry at port and who subsequently departed (2,155 compared to 1,721).
4. Returns by type, nationals of EU
| Year ending June 2015 | Year ending June 2016 | Change | Percentage change | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Total enforced returns(1) | 3,435 | 4,341 | +906 | +26% |
| of which: | ||||
| Enforced removals(2) | 3,402 | 4,247 | +845 | +25% |
| Other returns from detention(3) | 33 | 94 | +61 | +185% |
| Total voluntary returns (excluding returns from detention)(4) | 560 | 598 | - | - |
| Total refused entry at port and subsequently departed | 1,721 | 2,155 | +434 | +25% |
Table notes
Source: Home Office, Immigration Statistics April to June 2016, 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.
(4) The figures for total voluntary returns are particularly subject to upward revision as matching checks are made on travellers after departure, so comparisons with the previous 12 months have not been included here due to the retrospective nature of data-matching exercises. These figures will be subject to upward revision in future releases.
5. Returns by ‘harm’ assessment
A harm matrix was introduced in 2007 to assess whether the Home Office was removing the most harmful people; ‘higher harm’ assessments include people who have committed serious criminal and immigration offences. More information on the harm matrix is available in the user guide to Home Office Immigration Statistics.
In the year ending June 2016, 11,311 enforced removals and 28,520 voluntary returns (including returns from detention) were subject to an assessment for a harm rating, of which 21% (2,413) were assessed as ‘highest harm’, a higher figure than the 17% (2,107) the preceding year. A total of 1% (198) of total voluntary returns was assessed as ‘highest harm’.
6. Foreign national offenders
The Home Office also removes FNOs using enforcement powers or via deportation. In the year ending June 2016, provisional data show that 5,891 FNOs were returned. 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.
7. Data tables:
Data referred to here can be found in the following tables:
Returns vol. 1: Tables rt 01 to rt 02 q
The following tables are included in this volume:
rt 01 Returns by type and asylum/non-asylum
rt 01 q Returns by type and asylum/non-asylum
rt 02 Returns by country of nationality and type
rt 02 q Returns by country of nationality and type
Returns vol. 2: Table rt 03
The following table is included in this volume:
rt 03 Returns by country of nationality, age and sex
Returns vol. 3: Table rt 04
The following table is included in this volume:
rt 04 Returns by country of nationality and destination
Returns vol. 4: Table rt 04q
The following table is included in this volume:
rt 04 q Returns by country of nationality and destination
Returns vol. 5: Tables rt 05 to rt 07 q
The following table is included in this volume:
rt 05 Returns by country of destination and type
rt 05 q Returns by country of destination and type
rt 06 Returns of foreign national offenders
rt 07 Returns by harm assessment category
rt 07 q Returns by harm assessment category
8. Background information
The figures in this section relate to numbers of people, including dependants, leaving the UK either voluntarily when they no longer had a right to stay in the UK or where the Home Office has sought to return them to their own country, an EU Member State, or a third country where they are permanently admissible. While individuals refused entry at port and subsequently departing have not necessarily entered the country, their return requires action by the UK Border Force and Home Office, such as being placed on a flight, and is therefore included above.
8.1 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.