The government has released its immigration statistics for 2017. The figures show that 27,331 people were detained under immigration powers during the year, a 5% reduction compared to 2016. The full data set can be found here.
So progress is being made but there is a long way to go in changing the UK’s approach to migrants. Here’s what some of our colleagues in the migration and detention sector made of the news…
Between Oct-Dec 2017 (Q4), @ukhomeoffice detained 7,514 people. Of these, 1181 (16%) spent 29+ days in detention; 255 spent 6+ months; 37 12+ months and 7 24+ months. During Q4
38% of those detained were granted leave to enter / remainor temporary admission / release. pic.twitter.com/aIIOAfnuUE— TheDetentionForum (@DetentionForum) February 26, 2018
In 2017, more than half of all those detained returned back to the community in the UK. However, the proportion returning vs those deported varied widely by nationality. People from Southern Asia were much more likely to return to their communities than those from Eastern Europe pic.twitter.com/bAFNnhtgyN
— TheDetentionForum (@DetentionForum) February 26, 2018
During 2017 .@ukhomeoffice detained 27,331 people. At the end of December 2,545 were still detained, including 407 (16%) in prisons. Because of changes to how people detained in prisons are recorded, 2017 data is not directly comparable with previous years pic.twitter.com/KI9KXpEx6o
— TheDetentionForum (@DetentionForum) February 26, 2018
“At the end of 2017, 70% of the 2,545 people in detention had been detained for more than 28 days. At a stroke, a 28 day time limit would massively reduce the numbers detained”. It’s #Time4aTimeLimit NOW – while we work to end detention altogether. Great analysis by @SDVisitors
— Lisa Matthews (@LisaMatthewsRtR) February 22, 2018
Head over to our website for our blog on the latest detention figures. Key points: It’s #Time4aTimeLimit and #Dungavel is increasingly a place of #detention for EU citizens @Stuart_McDonald @LindaFabianiSNP @ChristinaSNP https://t.co/UCglE4fZlb
— ScotDetaineeVisitors (@SDVisitors) February 22, 2018
What do the latest #detention figures tell us? No drastic reduction in numbers detained, more than half of people detained eventually released, 70% of people detained for more than 28 days #Time4aTimeLimit our new blog https://t.co/UCglE4fZlb @DetentionForum
— ScotDetaineeVisitors (@SDVisitors) February 22, 2018
Figures also show that the number of people in #detention is falling. However, still far too many have to experience this inhumane treatment. Appalling to think someone has been in detention for over four years. https://t.co/3ckDLztCuw
— CRMC Coventry (@CRMCCov) February 22, 2018
Today’s migration stats show sharp increase in people leaving immigration detention after months locked up – because they’re being released! So what’s the point of tearing families apart and crippling mental health? It’s #Time4aTimeLimit https://t.co/TvcvSKJIh9 #ItsAboutTime pic.twitter.com/0eiifgdITk
— Liberty (@libertyhq) February 22, 2018
The latest immigration stats are out today, showing that at the end of Dec 2017, someone had been in #detention for 1,698 days. That’s over four years.
This must change, right now. #Time4aTimeLimit
More information about the stats is available here https://t.co/2jZHggqtkT pic.twitter.com/P0jqKerJ48
— TheDetentionForum (@DetentionForum) February 22, 2018
The number of asylum cases that haven’t received an initial decision within 6 months has gone up by 66% over the last year – 14,650 cases compared to 8,825 at the end of 2016 #ImmigrationStats
— Jon Featonby (@jonfeatonby) February 22, 2018
Many who come here seeking safety are facing long delays on a decision on their asylum claim. Latest #ImmigrationStats show the number of main applicants waiting over six months for a decision on their asylum claim rose to 14,650 – 66% increase from the same period last year.
— Refugee Action (@RefugeeAction) February 22, 2018
Today’s #ImmigrationStats show lowest numbers in detention since records began in 2008. 2,545 people in detention on 31/12 is 27% drop since The Verne closed. But still too many.
— Jerome Phelps (@JeromeGPhelps) February 22, 2018
This is appalling and must change. The reality behind these #ImmigrationStats stats is thousands of people stuck in limbo https://t.co/8cRgTiHdZN
— Mariam Kemple Hardy (@MKemple) February 22, 2018
At the end of 2017, one person had been detained under immigration powers for 1698 days – that’s over four and a half years #ImmigrationStats
— Jon Featonby (@jonfeatonby) February 22, 2018
#immigrationstats day, where we collectively despair at a failing system, then get increasingly fired up to do something about it. #RefugeesWelcome #asylum https://t.co/dI6XVNQB7v
— Vicky Ledwidge (@VickyLedwidge) February 22, 2018