Food delivery drivers from Deliveroo, Uber Eats, and Just Eat have been banned from entering a luxury apartment complex in London's Canary Wharf, following concerns they might be undocumented. The Canary Riverside complex, managed by Parkgate Aspen, implemented the ban after a security notice cited reports that some drivers lacked correct work documentation.
The notice, sent to residents, referenced the "appropriation of the nearby Britannia hotel for migrant housing and the resultant unrest" as a factor. It stated that plans to restrict delivery riders had been finalised, as they "cannot be allowed to roam around for delivery to individual flats." The ban applies to all food delivery riders, while grocery deliveries from Ocado and Tesco are still permitted at residents' discretion.
Deliveroo, Just Eat, and Uber Eats have all denied employing undocumented staff, stating they have robust checks and a zero-tolerance policy for illegal workers. Parkgate Aspen said the response to the ban has been mainly positive, though some residents expressed concern over the "arbitrary ban" that does not affect other visitors.
One resident commented: "I think it illustrates the pernicious knock-on effects of this anti-asylum seeker hysteria and how easy it is for authoritarians to seize upon provocations to ramp up tensions." A company spokesperson said the plan had been in development since January, prompted by reports of bad behaviour from riders, and was fast-tracked after the Britannia hotel story.
The spokesperson explained that grocery deliveries are allowed because those companies maintain an "audit trail" of incidents and have better training, adding: "This is not the case with food delivery drivers, many of whom are undocumented and on ‘sublet’ from the riders registered with the delivery companies."
