Dozens of food delivery riders are set to be deported from the United Kingdom following a targeted immigration enforcement operation last month. The Home Office crackdown on illegal working within the so-called gig-economy resulted in 171 arrests across the country.
Nationwide Enforcement Operations
Of those detained in the series of coordinated raids, 60 individuals have been detained pending removal from the UK. The Home Office released video evidence showing enforcement officers arresting one man by his bicycle on the street and escorting another into the back of an immigration van.
Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood was personally present during one operation in Streatham, south London. The arrests spanned several regions and nationalities, including Chinese nationals working in a restaurant in Solihull, West Midlands, as well as Bangladeshi and Indian delivery riders in Newham, east London, and Indian riders in Norwich, Norfolk.
Government's Stance and Legislative Backing
The drive forms a central part of the government's strategy to deter illegal migration by clamping down on unlawful employment. 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 action represents “the most sweeping changes to illegal migration in modern times” designed to reduce incentives and scale up removals. The enforcement push coincides with the new Border Security, Asylum and Immigration Act becoming law, which closes a loophole requiring casual and subcontracted workers to prove their immigration status.
Collaboration with Industry and Rising Arrests
Ministers have been working with major food delivery platforms, including Deliveroo, Just Eat, and Uber Eats, to address sector abuse and ramp up identity checks to combat account-sharing. In a notable move, the Home Office agreed in July to share the locations of asylum accommodation hotels with these companies to tackle suspected hotspots of illegal working.
Official figures underscore the intensifying enforcement activity. Home Office data shows 8,232 arrests of illegal workers in the year to September, marking a sharp 63% increase from the 5,043 arrests recorded in the previous twelve-month period.
The legal consequences for employers are also being significantly toughened. Businesses that fail to conduct proper right-to-work checks now face severe penalties, including fines of up to £60,000 for each illegal worker, prison sentences of up to five years, and potential closure of their operations.
