Officials gave Hadush Kebatu, the asylum seeker convicted of sexual assault and wrongly released earlier this month, £500 cash as an incentive for him to leave the UK without disrupting his deportation flight, which would have delayed his deportation and likely have led to an overall higher cost to the taxpayer. Which of the following comes closest to your opinion on this?

Officials gave Hadush Kebatu, the asylum seeker convicted of sexual assault and wrongly released earlier this month, £500 cash as an incentive for him to leave the UK without disrupting his deportation flight, which would have delayed his deportation and likely have led to an overall higher cost to the taxpayer. Which of the following comes closest to your opinion on this? Published on 30 October 2025 → Survey conducted on 30 October 2025 on 6193 GB adults

All adults

Region

Gender

Politics

Age

It was preferable to give him £500 directly, to ensure he was deported as quickly and cheaply as possible

42%

It would have been preferable not to have given him cash directly, even if this led to a delay in deportation and higher costs to the taxpayer

23%

Something else

20%

Don't know

16%

It was preferable to give him £500 directly, to ensure he was deported as quickly and cheaply as possible

42%

It would have been preferable not to have given him cash directly, even if this led to a delay in deportation and higher costs to the taxpayer

23%

Something else

20%

Don't know

16%

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