The number of Albanians removed from the UK against their will has collapsed despite soaring numbers crossing the Channel to reach Britain.

Just 888 faced 'enforced return' to their homeland in the year to last June, down from a peak of 1,594 in the 12 months to June 2018.

Analysis of Home Office data shows the number started to fall in early 2019 under Sajid Javid's watch at the Home Office. They fell even further during Covid and have failed to fully recover.

Separate data shows the number of Albanians granted bail from immigration detention centres has soared in the last few months as the Home Office was unable to deport them.

There were 2,438 Albanians bailed between July and September, up from just 505 in the same period in 2021.

More broadly, enforced removals for all nationalities have also dropped. There were just 3,250 in the year to June, down from more than 20,000 a year in the mid-2000s.

In December, Rishi Sunak announced plans to deport 'thousands' of Albanians within months. Home Secretary Suella Braverman and her predecessors have previously said human rights and modern slavery claims are frustrating deportation attempts.

In a further troubling development, the number of the most serious foreign criminals deported has halved. In the year to June, 1,466 foreign offenders classed as 'highest harm' or 'high harm', including those who committed the worst sexual and violent crimes, faced enforced removal.

The number fell from 3,116 the previous year and was down from a peak of more than 7,300 in 2013.

In 2022, there were 13,000 Albanian arrivals by small boat, a third of Channel migrants from northern France.

A Home Office spokesman said: 'We are working with the Albanian government to remove those making dangerous and illegal journeys here.'