Enforced Removals: Enforced removals from the UK decreased by 3% to 12,275 in the year ending September 2015 compared with the previous year (12,627). This is the lowest level since the series began in 2004.
The number of passengers refused entry at port and who subsequently departed has increased by 9% in the year ending September 2015, to 16,575 from 15,276 for the previous year. While the figure is lower than that in 2004 (36,167), the number refused entry at port and subsequently departing has been increasing slowly since 2012.
In the year ending September 2015, provisional data show that 5,591 foreign national offenders (FNOs) were removed from the UK, using enforcement powers or via deportation. This was a 9% increase on the previous year (5,145) and the highest number since the series began in 2009.
Asylum and Non-Asylum Enforced Removals: In the year ending September 2015, there were 3,646 enforced removals of people who had previously sought asylum, down 17% from the previous year (4,399). This figure is 69% lower than the peak in 2004 (11,743) when this data series began. This long-term decrease in the enforced removal of those who had sought asylum reflects the lower number of asylum applications since 2002. In the year ending September 2015, 70% of total enforced removals were non-asylum cases (8,629), up from the previous year (8,228) but down from the peak of 10,070 in 2008.
Removals and Voluntary Departures by Nationality: The highest number of enforced removals in the year ending September 2015 was for Pakistani nationals (1,447; 12% of the total), who have also shown the largest decrease compared with the previous year (-377 or -21%). The second highest was for Albanian nationals (1,146; 9% of the total).
The highest number of passengers refused entry at port and subsequently departed was for United States nationals (1,885; 11% of the total), who have also shown the largest decrease compared with the previous year (-120 or -6%) . The second and third highest numbers were for Albanian (1,375; 8% of the total) and Brazilian (836; 5% of the total) nationals. The largest increase compared with the previous year was for Albanian nationals (299 or 28%). United States and Brazilian nationals who are not coming to the UK for work or for 6 months or more do not need to apply for, and be issued with, a visa prior to arrival. The first time that they can be refused entry will therefore be on arrival in the UK.
The highest number of voluntary departures in the year ending September 2015 was for Indian nationals (6,042; 24% of the total), who have also shown the largest decrease compared with the previous year (-804 or -12%). The second largest decrease compared with year ending September 2014 is for Chinese nationals (-711 or -29%). The second highest number was for Pakistani nationals (3,640; 14% of the total).
For nationals of the European Union there were 22% more enforced removals (3,581) in the year ending September 2015 compared with the previous 12 months (2,929); nearly 40% more passengers refused entry at port and subsequently departed (1,701 compared to 1,224); and 38% more voluntary departures (589 compared to 428). Increases in the removals of EU nationals comprise the removal of more criminals and those not exercising Treaty Rights.
Detention Adults: The number of people entering detention in the year ending September 2015 increased by 11% to 32,741 from 29,491 in the previous year. Over the same period there was an 11% increase in those leaving detention (from 29,161 to 32,481).
There was a continuing decline in the proportion of detainees being removed on leaving detention from the most recent peak in the year ending March 2011 of 64% to 47% in the year ending September 2015. The decline in the last quarter, July to September 2015, may be attributed to the cessation of the detained fast track process in July 2015. Conversely, there was an increase in the proportion of detainees granted temporary admission or release, from 28% to 42%, and an increase in the proportion of detainees granted bail, from 6% to 10%, over the same periods.
As at the end of September 2015, 3,531 people were in detention, 5% higher than the number recorded at the end of September 2014 (3,378).
Children in Detention: The number of children entering detention in the year ending September 2015 increased slightly to 154 from 151 in the previous year. This was an 86% fall compared with the beginning of the data series in 2009 (1,119). In the third quarter of 2015, 31 children entered detention, compared with 32 in the third quarter of 2014 and 72 in the third quarter of 2013. Of the 31 children, 14 were initially detained at Tinsley House (Family Unit) immigration removal centre (IRC), 7 at Cedars pre-departure accommodation (PDA) and 10 at other IRCs and short-term holding facilities (STHFs).
Of the 31 children leaving detention in the third quarter of 2015, 12 were removed from the UK and 19 were granted temporary admission, temporary release or unconditional release. Of those leaving detention, 17 had been detained for less than four days, 8 for between four and seven days, 1 for between 8 and 14 days, 3 for between 15 and 28 days and 2 for between 29 days and 2 months. The number of children removed from the UK on leaving detention has ranged from 2 out of 24 (8%) in the first quarter of 2011 to 23 out of 37 (62%) in the third quarter of 2011 and currently in this quarter 12 out of 31 (39%). There were 2 children in detention as at 30 September 2015.
Length of Detention: During the year ending September 2015, 32,481 people left detention. Of these, 62% had been in detention for less than 29 days, 18% for between 29 days and two months and 12% for between two and four months. Of the 2,491 (8%) remaining, 221 had been in detention for between one and two years and 32 for two years or longer. Over a third (35%) of people leaving detention had been detained for seven days or less (11,352). Of these, 5,531 (49%) were removed, 5,543 (49%) were granted temporary admission or release, 71 (1%) were granted leave to enter or remain and 74 (1%) were bailed. Of the 253 detained for 12 months or more, 38% were removed, 36% were bailed and 21% were granted temporary admission or release.
Immigration Detainees in Prisons: As at 28 September 2015 there were 409 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.
Asylum: Asylum applications from main applicants increased by 19% to 29,024 in the year ending September 2015, the highest number of applications since the year ending June 2005 (30,314). The largest number of applications for asylum came from nationals of Eritrea (3,726), followed by Sudan (2,842), Iran (2,407) and Syria (2,402). Grant rates vary between nationalities; for example, at initial decision, the grant rate for nationals of Sudan was 84%, compared with 21% for Pakistani nationals.
Most applications for asylum are made by people already in the country (91% of applications in the year ending September 2015) rather than on arrival in the UK at a port. The majority of applicants tend to be young and male.
In the year ending September 2015, the number of initial decisions on asylum applications increased by 87% to 29,246, following a reallocation of case-working resources to this area, slightly more than the total number of applications received. Of these decisions, 41% (12,011) were grants of asylum or an alternative form of protection, compared with 38% in the previous year. This is the highest number of grants since the year ending September 2003 (15,556).
In addition, a total of 776 people were resettled in the UK in the year ending September 2015. Of these, 162 (252 since the scheme began) were granted humanitarian protection under the Syrian Vulnerable Persons Relocation Scheme. On 7 September, the Prime Minister announced an expansion to the existing Syrian Vulnerable Persons Relocation Scheme. Through this expansion, it is expected that 20,000 Syrians in need of protection will be resettled in the UK by 2020.
Estimated figures show the UK had the seventh highest number (36,000) of asylum applications within the EU in the year ending September 2015, including dependants. Germany (318,000), Hungary (190,000) and Sweden (94,000) were the top 3 receiving EU countries.
Support Provided to Asylum Seekers: At the end of September 2015, 31,896 asylum seekers and their dependants were being supported in the UK under Section 95 (either in supported accommodation or receiving subsistence support), compared with 27,815 at the end of September 2014.
Asylum Appeals: The HM Courts and Tribunals Service received 13,912 asylum appeals from main applicants in the year ending September 2015, a 111% rise compared with the year ending September 2014 (6,606) reflecting the higher number of decisions in this period. Appeal determinations have increased from 6,267 in the year ending September 2014 to 8,823 in the year ending September 2015. This remains below the peaks in the number of appeals (16,560) and the number of determinations (16,032) in the year ending June 2010. In the year ending September 2015, the proportion of determined appeals that were dismissed was 62%, while 33% of appeals were allowed and 5% were withdrawn.
Full report here