The United Kingdom government has disbursed approximately £6.5 million in taxpayer funds to foreign nationals convicted of crimes in the UK, as part of a scheme to encourage their departure from the country. The payments were made under the Facilitated Return Scheme (FRS) between July 2024, following the Labour party's election win, and October 2025.
Data obtained by the Daily Mail reveals that 4,625 individuals received grants averaging £1,405 each. These funds are intended to incentivize foreign national offenders (FNOs) to leave the UK voluntarily, sometimes up to four years before their prison sentences conclude.
The scheme has previously drawn scrutiny, notably in the case of Hadush Kebatu, a convicted sex offender who received £500 from the Home Office to facilitate his return to Ethiopia. Kebatu, who had been convicted of sexual assault and arrived in the UK via asylum claims, was mistakenly released from prison instead of being deported. After his recapture, he reportedly threatened to obstruct his deportation, leading to the payment. He was ultimately deported with the assistance of security officers.
The largest payout occurred in October 2025, totaling £590,913 to 410 individuals, while January of the same year saw the lowest disbursement of £291,277 to 211 people. The Home Office had initially sought to withhold these figures, citing exemptions under Freedom of Information law, but has since acknowledged no plans to publicly release spending details on the scheme.
The FRS has been operational since 2006, providing 'resettlement grants' to aid reintegration and encourage cooperation with removal processes. Eligibility for grants, up to £1,500 for those still serving a sentence and £750 for those who have completed their sentences or did not receive a custodial sentence, is contingent on the offender's application. Additional grants of up to £1,500 are available for children accompanying eligible individuals.
A discretionary payment of £500 can also be issued to 'vulnerable' migrants with offenses, including those with mental health issues, disabilities, or who are pregnant, elderly, sick, or homeless. The specifics of Kebatu's eligibility for such a discretionary payment remain unclear.
The Home Office stated that the FRS is a more cost-efficient method compared to imprisonment or protracted legal challenges against deportation, citing potential savings of up to £215,000 per offender. Government figures from 2023-2024 indicate the average annual cost of housing a prisoner is £53,801. The department reported that nearly 70,000 individuals without the right to remain in the UK have been returned since the last election, a 41% increase over the preceding 21 months, with removals of foreign national offenders, including murderers and rapists, up by 36%.