Criminals get £1,500 pay-out from taxpayer to return again to Albania

Ministers have been accused of giving “pointless handouts” to Albanian criminals yesterday after they have been paid £1,500 of taxpayers’ money to return residence following conviction.

Under a scheme, which additionally affords them a 12 months off their sentence, as much as 1,000 ex-offenders have been flown again to Albania.

An investigation revealed that among the prisoners, nonetheless, plan to return to Britain.

Public spending watchdogs condemned the send-off, which was drawn up in an settlement between Westminster and Tirana final 12 months.

Benjamin Elks, operations supervisor on the TaxPayers’ Alliance mentioned: “This dosh for deportees will shock taxpayers. Removing people here illegally is already too costly and complex, without these pointless handouts. Ministers should put a stop to these payments.”

The BBC spoke to dozens of deportees who’ve returned on weekly repatriation flights to Tirana airport underneath the deal. Home Office officers mentioned greater than 1,000 have been despatched again, half voluntarily, half failed asylum seekers or criminals.

Albanian police declare nearly of all of these despatched again from Britain had been convicted of offences right here. One 30-year-old prisoner, Mark, mentioned he was deported by pressure after being given a six-year jail time period.

He served two years earlier than being despatched residence and supplied £1,500 underneath the “Facilitated Return Scheme”. The deal is obtainable solely to those that waive their proper to attraction in opposition to deportation and cooperate with authorities.

Mark mentioned: “It was my choice to come back. Nobody forced me. They offered it to me. They said, ‘You decide if you want to go or want to stay’.”

Another prisoner mentioned: “It’s not a problem for me. I’ll go back whenever I want.” In Krume, Northern Albania, 60 p.c of the inhabitants has already left for Britain and native politicians say many of the city’s voters reside in East London.

Britain funnels greater than £8m into initiatives and companies in Kukes, the place Krume is situated, to encourage extra individuals to remain.

Last month it emerged that Albanians made up the biggest group of individuals being referred to a Home Office slavery prevention scheme.

They accounted for 1,452 of the 4,746 – 31 p.c – of those that have been in a position to delay their deportation after claiming they have been victims of the scourge.

Claimants will need to have instances assessed earlier than they are often eliminated which takes a mean of 566 days.

Alp Mehmet, chairman of think-tank Migration Watch UK, mentioned: “Ministers must double down and ensure those who seek to exploit the system know they will be returned home.”

A authorities spokesperson mentioned: “We value the Albanian community in the UK, and continue to welcome the many Albanians who travel to the UK legally and contribute significantly to British society.

“The UK and Albanian governments work together to take every opportunity to intercept the work of people smugglers and others, and speed up the removal of Albanians with no legal right to be in the UK.”