The British government is considering plans that could allow migrant children to be handcuffed and forcibly removed from the country if their families refuse to leave voluntarily, according to proposals released by the Home Office.
The policy forms part of a wider strategy aimed at tackling illegal migration and speeding up the return of families whose asylum claims have failed.
Under the proposal, families who have exhausted their asylum appeals will be offered financial incentives to return to their home countries. Those who refuse could face enforced deportation, which in extreme cases may involve officials physically intervening to remove children alongside their parents.
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The scheme was announced by Shabana Mahmood, who said the government would begin a pilot programme offering payments of up to £10,000 per person to encourage voluntary returns.
For larger families, the total payment could reach £40,000.
Officials say the initiative is inspired by a similar policy in Denmark, where voluntary return payments have helped reduce asylum claims to their lowest level in four decades.
Families who accept the offer will have seven days to leave Britain. The money will only be issued once they have arrived back in their home countries, using a prepaid card system.
However, if families refuse the payment and refuse to leave the country, they could be subject to forced removal.
A consultation document published by the Home Office states that immigration enforcement officers may, as a “last resort,” physically intervene if a child refuses to comply with deportation orders. The guidance suggests that restraints such as handcuffs could be used in rare situations to prevent non-compliance.
The document states that “physical handling of a child as a last resort to overcome non-compliance is an unfortunate but necessary and justified intervention.”
Current public-sector rules allow police and prison officers to restrain children only in exceptional circumstances, such as preventing harm, escape or self-injury. The proposed immigration policy would extend similar powers to enforcement officers carrying out deportations.
Government officials say the change is necessary because some families have used the presence of children to delay or block their removal from the UK.
A Home Office spokesperson said forced deportations would remain rare.
“A forced return will always be a last resort. But we must enforce our rules and return those with no right to remain in this country, as long as their home country is safe,” the spokesperson said.
The pilot programme will initially involve about 150 families currently living in asylum hotels across the UK. According to ministers, housing a family of four in such accommodation can cost taxpayers up to £158,000 per year.
Ms Mahmood argued that voluntary return payments could save public money and help restore control over Britain’s immigration system.
“For too long, families who have failed their claims have known that we were not enforcing our rules,” she said during a speech at the Institute for Public Policy Research.
“That created a perverse incentive to make dangerous Channel crossings with children in small boats.”
She added that parents now face a clear choice: accept the incentive payment and return home safely, or face enforced removal.
The government estimates the scheme could save taxpayers up to £20 million if widely adopted.
Ministers also argue that the payments are unlikely to attract more migrants, pointing out that many asylum seekers already spend tens of thousands of pounds travelling to Europe.
The proposal has already sparked debate among migration experts and human rights groups, who warn that the use of force against children during deportations could raise ethical and legal concerns.
The Home Office consultation will gather views on how the policy should operate before any final rules are introduced. If approved, the pilot programme could be expanded nationwide as part of the government’s wider effort to tighten border controls and reduce asylum costs.
