UK raids 823 locations, arrests 609 in illegal work crackdown

The UK government says it has launched an unprecedented crackdown on illegal working, with enforcement activity reaching record levels in January.

Home Secretary Yvette Cooper announced the latest figures on Monday, coinciding with the second reading of the Border Security, Asylum and Immigration Bill in Parliament.

According to the Home Office, “Immigration Enforcement teams conducted 823 workplace raids across the country, a 48 per cent increase from the previous year.

“These efforts led to 609 arrests, marking a staggering 73 per cent rise compared to January 2023.”

The surge in enforcement is part of a broader strategy to dismantle smuggling networks and restore order to the immigration system.

UK Immigration Enforcement | Home Office
All these and many more are detailed in a release on the UK government website on Monday, February 10, 2025, titled, “UK-wide blitz on illegal working to strengthen border security.”

“The immigration rules must be respected and enforced.

“For far too long, employers have been able to take on and exploit illegal migrants, and too many people have been able to arrive and work illegally with no enforcement action ever taken,” said Cooper.

Targeting Illegal Workplaces
The raids focused on industries known for employing undocumented workers, including nail bars, convenience stores, restaurants, and car washes.

Notable operations included:
Cheshire: Immigration teams arrested ten individuals at vape shops, with two others apprehended for possessing counterfeit documents.

Humberside: A raid on an Indian restaurant resulted in seven arrests and four detentions.

South London: A grocery warehouse was stormed, leading to six arrests and four detentions.

The government also intensified its financial penalties on employers found guilty of hiring illegal workers, with fines reaching up to £60,000 per worker, the release noted.

Tackling Exploitation, Smuggling Networks
The Home Office emphasised that many migrants are lured to the UK under false pretenses, only to face squalid living conditions, meager wages, and inhumane working hours.

Also, rogue employers exploit this labour force while evading taxes, undercutting legitimate businesses that comply with the law.

The Director of Enforcement, Compliance and Crime, Eddy Montgomery, reaffirmed the government’s commitment to tackling illegal working.

He stated, “These figures demonstrate the commitment of my teams to crack down on those who think they can flout our immigration system.

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“I hope it sends a strong signal that there is no hiding place from the law.”

Expulsions at Record Highs
Alongside enforcement raids, the government has ramped up deportations of individuals with no legal right to remain in the UK.

Since the last election, over 16,400 people have been removed—marking the highest level since 2018.

Bespoke charter flights have carried more than 800 offenders back to their home countries, including some of the UK’s largest removal operations in history.

Strengthening Border Security
Consequently, the crackdown comes as part of the government’s broader Plan for Change, aimed at strengthening the UK’s immigration policies.

New legislative measures in the Border Security, Asylum and Immigration Bill will grant law enforcement enhanced powers to dismantle smuggling networks.

This includes the ability to seize mobile phones from individuals who enter the UK illegally before their arrest.

In a further bid to deter illegal migration, the government has launched an international awareness campaign targeting potential migrants.

Moreso, social media campaigns in Vietnam and Albania are warning individuals about the grim realities of illegal working and the consequences of exploitation.

Landmark Border Security Summit
Meanwhile, to consolidate international efforts against illegal migration, the UK government will host a high-profile Border Security Summit at Lancaster House in London on March 31 and April 1.

The event will bring together delegates from over 40 countries, alongside key representatives from the European Union and other international institutions.

“We are boosting enforcement to record levels alongside tough new legislation to smash the criminal gangs that undermine our border security and have been getting away with it for too long,” Cooper affirmed.