Nationwide sweep targets illegal workers
Hundreds of arrests have been made in a nationwide immigration enforcement operation targeting illegal working in the gig economy as the government steps up efforts to close asylum hotels and respond to growing public anger over migration.
The week-long crackdown, codenamed Operation Equalize, saw Home Office teams focus on delivery riders suspected of working without the legal right to do so. Between July 20 and 27, officers stopped and spoke to 1,780 individuals across the UK, leading to 280 arrests.
The Home Office said 53 people now face having their asylum support reviewed, potentially losing accommodation or payments. Those caught working illegally could be removed from the UK.
Funding boost for enforcement
The results were announced alongside a £5 million funding boost for Immigration Enforcement, part of a wider £100 million border security package. The extra cash will allow more frequent visits to illegal working hotspots and greater intelligence gathering.
The crackdown follows a new agreement with Deliveroo, Uber Eats and Just Eat to share the locations of asylum hotels, enabling firms to identify riders who may be breaking immigration rules.
Minister for Border Security and Asylum, Dame Angela Eagle, said: “Illegal working undermines our border security and we’re cracking down hard on it… this operation is just one example of our relentless efforts to bear down on organised immigration crime.”
Protests outside asylum hotels
The arrests come after a weekend of protests outside asylum hotels in several towns and cities. Demonstrators ranged from local residents voicing frustration over the strain on housing and public services to organised far-right groups calling for tougher immigration laws.
In some locations, police were deployed to keep rival groups apart, as counter-protesters accused organisers of stoking division. The protests underline the political pressure facing ministers, with both mainstream voters and vocal campaigners demanding a visible reduction in irregular migration.
Wider clampdown on illegal work
During Operation Equalize, enforcement teams targeted businesses such as car washes, restaurants and retail outlets, issuing 51 Civil Penalty Referral Notices. These could lead to hefty fines if employers are found to have hired illegal workers without proper checks.
Police support led to 71 vehicles being seized, including 58 e-bikes used for deliveries, along with £8,000 in cash and around £460,000 in illicit cigarettes. Arrests were made across the UK, from seven Indian nationals in Hillingdon, west London, to three people detained in Dumfries during a tobacco control operation.
Part of wider migration strategy
The government is also pushing through the Border Security, Asylum and Immigration Bill, which will make it a legal requirement for all companies, including gig economy platforms, to verify a worker’s immigration status.
This comes alongside new UK-France measures allowing the immediate detention and return to France of small boat arrivals. Ministers say the combined approach – closing asylum hotels, removing those with no right to remain, and clamping down on illegal work – will help deter dangerous crossings and reduce the pull factors exploited by smuggling gangs.
Since last year’s election, the Home Office says 35,000 people with no right to be in the UK have been returned, with the number of asylum hotels now reduced, saving millions in public funds.
