Foreign Criminals Offered Up to £2,000 to Agree to Deportation

Published: 24 September 2025. The English Chronicle Desk, English Chronicle Online

Under a new initiative by the UK Home Office, foreign criminals are being offered up to £2,000 if they agree to be deported to their home countries. The scheme aims to encourage offenders to leave the UK voluntarily before completing their prison sentences, significantly reducing the costs of keeping them in custody.

A report by ITV News showed nearly 50 foreign national offenders being escorted from an immigration removal center to a flight bound for Romania. Each offender received a pre-loaded bank card with up to £2,000. Up to six staff members accompanied each passenger to prevent attempts to escape, and some were restrained for safety during transport.

This footage marks the first time journalists were allowed onboard a deportation flight for foreign national offenders. The Facilitated Return Scheme is designed to incentivize early removal from the UK, allowing offenders to be returned even after serving as little as 30 percent of their custodial sentence, compared to the previous 50 percent requirement.

Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood acknowledged that the payments “don’t look good out of context,” but emphasized that voluntary removal is cheaper for taxpayers. “We have long offered financial packages to encourage people to drop claims, leave the country voluntarily, and board a flight,” she said.

In the ITV report, a journalist asked one migrant, “Do you want to go home?” The individual replied, “No, I’ve been living here 10 years.” Another refused to disclose the nature of their crime.

Each foreign criminal is entitled to up to £2,000 under the scheme, which is intended to support resettlement in their home country. Those applying while still in prison can receive £1,500, as can qualifying family members. Individuals who apply after completing their sentence or have non-custodial convictions are eligible for £750. An additional discretionary £500 is available for individuals with vulnerabilities such as mental or physical disabilities, pregnancy, homelessness, or serious illness.

The scheme excludes certain offenders if offering money could “undermine public confidence,” including those involved in high-profile crimes, murder, sexual offenses against minors, terrorism, or human trafficking.

The foreign offenders in the ITV report initially arrived in the UK legally but committed crimes including theft, sexual offenses, and murder, resulting in custodial sentences and subsequent deportation eligibility. Around 100 security personnel and seven buses were required to transport them to the airport. Each disruptive offender was accompanied by up to six staff members and transported in individual vehicles. Onboard the flight, offenders were handed the pre-loaded cash cards.

Referring to the one-in, one-out deportation approach, Mahmood said, “We are ramping up the numbers and hope to provide updates in the coming weeks. The goal is to ensure that deportations act as a deterrent and discourage illegal entry.”

She added that secure borders would help improve race relations in the UK. “Controlling our borders creates space for decent, law-abiding citizens to welcome newcomers who contribute positively to society,” she said. Mahmood also expressed concern about the rise of far-right rhetoric and emphasized the importance of distinguishing patriotism from nationalism.

In 2024, approximately 34,000 people were deported from the UK, the highest number since 2017 and 25 percent more than in 2023, reflecting the government’s ongoing efforts to strengthen border control and manage foreign offenders efficiently.