The total number of 27,800, taken from the past three years including the first quarter of 2016, comes from responses to a request under the Freedom of Information Act by 39 police forces in England, Wales and Northern Ireland.

It does not include those detained at ports or airports, or those arrested after outstaying what their visa allowed, the BBC said.

Many of those held were picked up at places such as lorry stops and motorway service stations after entering the UK hidden in lorries.