Overview

• The latest removal brings total returns under the UK–France deal to 42, with 23 people admitted to Britain from France under the reciprocal route, according to the Home Office.
• A further 369 people crossed the Channel on Saturday, taking the year-to-date total to 36,734, close to last year’s full-year figure of 36,816.
• Officials say more flights are scheduled in the coming days as ministers pledge to scale up removals under the pilot agreement.
• Border Security Commander Martin Hewitt told MPs the scheme is very new with a core team of 12 full-time staff and highlighted delays linked to French training and legal liabilities for near‑shore interceptions.
• The government points to wider enforcement efforts, including cooperation with Western Balkans partners and a reported 350 National Crime Agency disruptions of immigration crime networks over the past year.