The Home Office has announced that approximately 60 delivery riders are set to be removed from the United Kingdom after being found to be working illegally. This action forms part of a wider national crackdown targeting illegal employment within the so-called gig economy.
Nationwide Enforcement Operations Lead to Mass Arrests
Last month, targeted operations by Immigration Enforcement officers resulted in 171 arrests across the country. Of those detained, 60 individuals have been identified for removal from the UK. The arrests included Chinese nationals working in a Solihull restaurant, Bangladeshi and Indian riders in Newham, east London, and Indian delivery riders in Norwich.
Video footage released by the Home Office shows officers making arrests on the street and escorting individuals into enforcement vans. Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood was also present during one operation in Streatham, south London.
Closing the Gig Economy Loophole
The drive coincides with the government's broader efforts to deter illegal migration by cracking down on illegal working. A significant focus is on closing a perceived 'loophole' for casual, temporary, or subcontracted workers, who currently may not face the same right-to-work checks as traditional employees.
Under new measures in the Border Security, Asylum and Immigration Act, which became law recently, employers—including gig economy platforms—could face severe penalties for non-compliance. These include fines of up to £60,000 per illegal worker and prison sentences of up to five years.
In October, Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood launched a consultation on plans to force food delivery apps like Deliveroo, Just Eat, and Uber Eats to carry out stricter checks on their riders' right to work. The Home Office has already agreed to share asylum hotel locations with these companies to tackle suspected hotspots.
Rising Arrests and Political Pressure
Home Office statistics reveal a sharp increase in enforcement activity, with 8,232 arrests of illegal workers in the year to September. This marks a 63% rise from the 5,043 arrests recorded in the previous twelve months.
Border Security Minister Alex Norris stated: 'These results should send a clear message, if you are working illegally in this country, you will be arrested and removed.' He added that the government is delivering record enforcement levels while tightening the law.
The action follows earlier revelations by Shadow Home Secretary Chris Philp, who found evidence of asylum seekers—who are banned from working—using delivery bikes outside a central London asylum hotel. This prompted a meeting with major delivery firms, leading to pledges to increase the use of facial recognition technology for rider verification.
Despite the rise in arrests, critics point out that only around 1,050 of the 8,000 people arrested last year have been deported, a rate of roughly one in eight. The government has invested an additional £5 million in the crackdown targeting sectors like takeaways, beauty salons, and car washes.
