The government has revealed a significant increase in arrests related to illegal working over the past two years, with figures showing a more than doubling from the previous period. Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood emphasized that individuals engaging in illegal work in the UK are being actively targeted, with 17,000 arrests made since July 2024, marking a 122% surge.
The Home Office disclosed that there has been a 50% rise in the deportation of individuals arrested for illegal working, totaling 2,357 deportations since the general election. This increase follows a week-long enforcement operation that resulted in 269 arrests, including 57 individuals associated with small boat arrivals.
Commenting on the enforcement efforts, Shabana Mahmood stated, “This government has intensified Immigration Enforcement to combat illegal working. The current level of enforcement activity represents a historic high in Britain, leaving no room for illegal workers and unscrupulous employers to evade detection.”
In a separate development, Zia Yusuf of Reform faced criticism for proposing a ‘Deliveroo law’ targeting illegal working as a distraction from other issues. However, the proposal was met with skepticism as existing laws already impose penalties, with Max Wilkinson of the Liberal Democrats branding Yusuf’s announcement as ill-conceived.
Looking ahead, the Home Secretary outlined plans to enhance enforcement measures, including mandatory eligibility checks for individuals working in the gig economy, such as Deliveroo. Non-compliance could result in fines up to £60,000 per person, director disqualifications, and potential prison terms up to five years. Additionally, there are intentions to double the Immigration Enforcement budget by 2029, leading to a substantial increase in staff and enforcement operations.
Critics have accused Reform of resorting to attention-grabbing tactics with their migration-related announcements. Meanwhile, Nigel Farage and Zia Yusuf’s proposal to involve the Royal Navy in intercepting small boats was swiftly rebuffed by the French government, citing sovereignty concerns.
Reform’s pledge to introduce stringent penalties for illegal working and employers was met with mixed reactions, with Labour’s Bridget Phillipson highlighting the government’s ongoing efforts in combating illegal working. Recent months have seen Farage embroiled in controversies, including a by-election and police investigations into party donations.
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