Albanians get £1,500 payout from taxpayer to head home
MINISTERS were accused of giving “pointless handouts” to Albanian criminals yesterday after they were paid £1,500 of taxpayers’ cash to return home following conviction.
Under a scheme, which also offers them a year off their sentence, up to 1,000 ex-offenders have been flown back to Albania.
An investigation revealed that some of the prisoners, however, plan to return to Britain.
Public spending watchdogs condemned the send-off, which was drawn up in an agreement between Westminster and Tirana last year.
Benjamin Elks, operations manager at the TaxPayers’ Alliance said: “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 have returned on weekly repatriation flights to Tirana airport under the deal.
Home Office officials said more than 1,000 have been sent back, half voluntarily, half failed asylum seekers or criminals.
Victims
Albanian police claim almost of all of those sent back from Britain had been convicted of offences here.
One 30-year-old prisoner, Mark, said he was deported by force after being given a six-year jail term.
He served two years before being sent home and offered £1,500 under the “Facilitated Return Scheme”.
The deal is offered only to those who waive their right to appeal against deportation and cooperate with authorities.
Mark said: “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 said: “It’s not a problem for me. I’ll go back whenever I want.”
In Krume, Northern Albania, 60 per cent of the population has already left for Britain and local politicians say most of the town’s voters live in East London.
Britain funnels more than £8m into projects and businesses in Kukes, where
Krume is located, to encourage more people to stay.
Last month it emerged that Albanians made up the largest group of people being referred to a Home Office slavery prevention scheme. They accounted for 1,452 of the 4,746 – 31 per cent – of those who were able to delay their deportation after claiming they were victims of the scourge. Claimants must have cases assessed before they can be removed which takes an average of 566 days. Alp Mehmet, chairman of think-tank Migration Watch UK, said: “Ministers must double down and ensure those who seek to exploit the system know they will be returned home.”
A government spokesperson said: “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.”