Questions have been raised in the UK about the continuing viability of deportation flights after the Home Office's admission that only four people were deported to Jamaica on a flight in the early hours of Wednesday morning.
The plane, which can take up to 350 passengers, left Birmingham airport after the original list of more than 50 deportees dwindled following legal challenges.
The four Jamaicans were accompanied by escorts.
A report in the Guardian newspaper says the average cost of a Home Office deportation charter flight is £200,000, so Wednesday's operation cost British taxpayers the equivalent of £50,000 for each deportee.
In a statement, Home Secretary Priti Patel said the people removed to Jamaica were convicted criminals who have been found guilty of a range of serious offences.
She expressed dissatisfaction that last-minute legal claims stopped the removal of 33 people.
The home secretary made no mention in her statement that some removal directions were deferred because of a COVID outbreak at Colnbrook immigration removal centre near Heathrow.
Home Office sources confirmed the outbreak and said they were working closely with the UK Health Security Agency to tackle it.
One lawyer who represented several people who were on the list for the Jamaica flight said some of those who were scheduled to be removed from the UK were unable to access legal advice prior to being detained due to the cost, while others had obtained poor-quality advice.
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