More than 1,000 people have been returned to Albania since the British government signed an agreement with Tirana last December. Some of them were released before serving their minimum sentences and were paid the sum of £1,500 if they agreed to return voluntarily to their country. About half of them were returned voluntarily, and the rest were deported as violators, LBC radio reports.
Some of the deportees told the BBC they had been released from British prisons and offered money to agree to be sent back. Those amounts are offered if the inmates agree to waive their right to appeal deportation and cooperate with authorities.
One of the prisoners, using the name “Mark”, explained that he had been sent back to Albania after serving six years in prison for drug offences. “It was my choice to come back, he said. No one forced me.”
The Albanian was deported under the parole scheme, which is used for prisoners of any nationality and does not require the prisoner’s consent. The Interior Ministry said it would not release the exact number of Albanians who received money to help with their deportation.
“The UK and Albanian governments are working together, taking every opportunity to crack down on smugglers and speed up the removal of Albanians who are illegally staying in the UK,” a ministry spokesman said.
Cooperation between the United Kingdom and Albania has led to tightening of controls on Albanian borders. Although there has been a sharp drop in Albanians arriving in small boats, the real test of how well the arrangement is working will be seen in the summer when the weather improves for crossing the English Channel, observers say.
Meanwhile, British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak reached an agreement to strengthen cooperation with the European Union on migration issues. British agencies will work together with the European border and coast guard agency Frontex on these issues, including the passage of small boats across the Channel.
Source: Lupa.bg
