Latest news with #OperationEqualise
&w=3840&q=100)
Business Standard
4 days ago
- Business Standard
UK immigration raids: Hundreds, including Indian migrants, arrested
UK authorities have arrested hundreds of people, including several Indians, during a week-long crackdown on two-wheeler riders suspected of working illegally for delivery firms. The Home Office said Immigration Enforcement teams carried out Operation Equalise between July 20 and 27 as part of a 'nationwide intensification week of activity' targeting illegal working hotspots. The focus was on migrants operating as delivery riders. A total of 1,780 individuals were stopped. Of these, 280 migrants and asylum seekers were arrested for working without the necessary documentation. In one raid in Hillingdon, west London, officers arrested seven Indian nationals. Five were detained for illegal work activity. 'Illegal working undermines our border security and we're cracking down hard on it,' said Dame Angela Eagle, UK Minister for Border Security and Asylum. 'That's why we have intensified our enforcement activity right across the UK to crack down on those who think they can evade immigration and employment laws.' Asylum support reviews and business penalties Following the operation, 53 individuals are having their asylum support reviewed, which could lead to accommodation or payments being suspended or withdrawn. The Home Office recently warned that those in the food delivery sector abusing the immigration system risk losing asylum support and could face removal from the UK. In addition, 51 businesses — including car washes, restaurants and retail outlets — received Civil Penalty Referral Notices. They could face fines if found to have employed illegal workers without carrying out the required pre-employment checks. Funding boost for enforcement teams Immigration Enforcement teams will receive a £5 million boost from the £100 million border security investment announced last week. The Home Office said this would fund a 'major surge' in enforcement raids in the coming months, allowing officers to revisit illegal working hotspots more often and improve intelligence gathering. 'We continue to intensify our activity against those who think they can get away with working illegally,' said Eddy Montgomery, Director of Enforcement, Compliance and Crime at the Home Office. 'My teams have been taking action around the clock, all across the country.' Seizures and police support Police forces supported the operation, seizing 71 vehicles — including 58 e-bikes — along with £8,000 in cash under the Proceeds of Crime Act and around £460,000 in illicit cigarettes. Linked to wider crackdown on illegal migration The arrests come alongside other measures to strengthen immigration enforcement, including stricter legal requirements for companies to verify employees' right to work under the Border Security, Asylum and Immigration Bill. On Sunday, the Home Office confirmed that its 'Deport Now Appeal Later' scheme will expand from eight countries to 23, including India. 'For far too long, foreign criminals have been exploiting our immigration system, remaining in the UK for months or even years while their appeals drag on. That has to end,' said Home Secretary Yvette Cooper. 'Those who commit crimes in our country cannot be allowed to manipulate the system.' The policy, first introduced in 2014 for foreign criminals sentenced to at least 12 months in prison, has been revived and broadened. It allows those affected to participate in appeal hearings remotely after being deported.
&w=3840&q=100)
First Post
4 days ago
- First Post
Indians among hundreds arrested in UK's crackdown on two-wheeler riders suspected of working illegally
Between July 20 and 27, a total of 1,780 individuals were stopped, leading to 280 arrests of migrants and asylum seekers found working without the requisite paperwork, the Home Office said read more The UK authorities have arrested hundreds of people, including Indians, in a week-long crackdown on two-wheeler riders suspected of working illegally for delivery firms across the country. The UK Home Office revealed this week that its Immigration Enforcement teams had conducted Operation Equalise recently as part of a 'nationwide intensification week of activity' targeting illegal working hotspots with a focus on the migrants working as delivery riders. Between July 20 and 27, a total of 1,780 individuals were stopped, leading to 280 arrests of migrants and asylum seekers found working without the requisite paperwork, the Home Office said. During one such raid, officers arrested seven Indian nationals at Hillingdon in west London, with five of them detained for illegal work activity. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD 'Illegal working undermines our border security and we're cracking down hard on it. That's why we have intensified our enforcement activity right across the UK to crack down on those who think they can evade immigration and employment laws in the UK," said Dame Angela Eagle, UK Minister for Border Security and Asylum. 'This operation is just one example of our relentless efforts to bear down on organised immigration crime at every level in our communities," she said. As a direct result of Operation Equalise, the Home Office said 53 individuals are now having their asylum support reviewed, which could result in their support being suspended or withdrawn. The operation follows a warning issued by the Home Office last month that those in the food delivery business caught abusing the immigration system could face having their asylum support ceased, such as entitlement to accommodation or payments, and those caught working illegally facing removal from the UK. The Home Office said its Immigration Enforcement teams will also receive a GBP 5 million funding boost to ramp up illegal working intensification activity even further.
Time of India
5 days ago
- Time of India
Indians among dozens held in UK work raids
Academy Empower your mind, elevate your skills LONDON: The UK authorities have arrested hundreds of people, including Indians, in a week-long crackdown on two-wheeler riders suspected of working illegally for delivery firms across the UK Home Office revealed this week that its Immigration Enforcement teams had conducted Operation Equalise recently as part of a "nationwide intensification week of activity" targeting illegal working hotspots with a focus on the migrants working as delivery July 20 and 27, a total of 1,780 individuals were stopped, leading to 280 arrests of migrants and asylum seekers found working without the requisite paperwork, the Home Office said. During one such raid, officers arrested seven Indian nationals at Hillingdon in west London, with five of them detained for illegal work activity."Illegal working undermines our border security and we're cracking down hard on it. That's why we have intensified our enforcement activity right across the UK to crack down on those who think they can evade immigration and employment laws in the UK," said Dame Angela Eagle , UK Minister for Border Security and Asylum."This operation is just one example of our relentless efforts to bear down on organised immigration crime at every level in our communities," she a direct result of Operation Equalise, the Home Office said 53 individuals are now having their asylum support reviewed, which could result in their support being suspended or operation follows a warning issued by the Home Office last month that those in the food delivery business caught abusing the immigration system could face having their asylum support ceased, such as entitlement to accommodation or payments, and those caught working illegally facing removal from the Home Office said its Immigration Enforcement teams will also receive a GBP 5 million funding boost to ramp up illegal working intensification activity even further.
News18
5 days ago
- News18
Indians among hundreds arrested in UK's illegal work crackdown
Last Updated: London, Aug 11 (PTI) The UK authorities have arrested hundreds of people, including Indians, in a week-long crackdown on two-wheeler riders suspected of working illegally for delivery firms across the country. The UK Home Office revealed this week that its Immigration Enforcement teams had conducted Operation Equalise recently as part of a 'nationwide intensification week of activity" targeting illegal working hotspots with a focus on the migrants working as delivery riders. Between July 20 and 27, a total of 1,780 individuals were stopped, leading to 280 arrests of migrants and asylum seekers found working without the requisite paperwork, the Home Office said. During one such raid, officers arrested seven Indian nationals at Hillingdon in west London, with five of them detained for illegal work activity. 'Illegal working undermines our border security and we're cracking down hard on it. That's why we have intensified our enforcement activity right across the UK to crack down on those who think they can evade immigration and employment laws in the UK," said Dame Angela Eagle, UK Minister for Border Security and Asylum. 'This operation is just one example of our relentless efforts to bear down on organised immigration crime at every level in our communities," she said. As a direct result of Operation Equalise, the Home Office said 53 individuals are now having their asylum support reviewed, which could result in their support being suspended or withdrawn. The operation follows a warning issued by the Home Office last month that those in the food delivery business caught abusing the immigration system could face having their asylum support ceased, such as entitlement to accommodation or payments, and those caught working illegally facing removal from the UK. The Home Office said its Immigration Enforcement teams will also receive a GBP 5 million funding boost to ramp up illegal working intensification activity even further. The cash injection, to be drawn from the GBP 100 million investment for border security announced last week, is earmarked for a 'major surge" in enforcement raids over the coming months. The aim is for officers to revisit and re-attend illegal working hotspots more frequently and increase enforcement teams' intelligence gathering capabilities to support frontline enforcement activity. 'We continue to intensify our activity against those who think they can get away with working illegally. My teams have been taking action around the clock, all across the country and I thank them for their hard work, co-operation and skill in dealing with this challenging issue," said Eddy Montgomery, Director of Enforcement, Compliance and Crime at the UK Home Office. In addition to the arrests made as part of Operation Equalise, 51 businesses, including car washes, restaurants and retail premises, were issued with Civil Penalty Referral Notices. This could see them face hefty fines if they are found to have employed illegal workers and failed to conduct relevant pre-employment checks. The operation was also supported by police forces across the UK, with officers seizing 71 vehicles throughout the week, including 58 e-bikes, as well as GBP 8,000 in cash under the Proceeds of Crime Act and around GBP 460,000 in illicit cigarettes. It comes as part of a series of measures to tighten the law around illegal migration, including stricter legal requirements for all companies to check that anyone working for them has the legal right to do so through the government's Border Security, Asylum and Immigration Bill in Parliament. PTI AK SCY SCY view comments First Published: August 11, 2025, 18:45 IST Disclaimer: Comments reflect users' views, not News18's. Please keep discussions respectful and constructive. Abusive, defamatory, or illegal comments will be removed. News18 may disable any comment at its discretion. By posting, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy.
