4 days ago
Hundreds of delivery drivers arrested in illegal migrant crackdown
Hundreds of delivery drivers have been arrested in a crackdown on illegal migrants.
A total of 1,780 people were stopped and spoken to at locations across the UK over suspected illegal working between July 20 and 27.
The Home Office said 280 were arrested in areas including Hillingdon in north-west London, Dumfries in Scotland, and Birmingham.
Of these, 53 people are now having their asylum support reviewed, which could lead to it being withdrawn.
It comes after a Telegraph investigation revealed that asylum seekers housed in Home Office hotels are paying off debts to people smugglers by illegally working as delivery riders.
The Telegraph found that migrants are making up to £500 a week by working for delivery services such as Deliveroo, Just Eat and Uber Eats, even though many of them are banned from working because of their immigration status.
The Home Office described July's operation as a 'nationwide intensification week' targeting illegal working hotspots, with a focus on the gig economy and people working as delivery riders.
Immigration enforcement teams will receive £5m from the £100m in funding already announced for border security.
Dame Angela Eagle, the border security minister, said: '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.'
Labour has been focusing on its efforts to reduce illegal migration in recent weeks as support for Reform UK grows.
Despite this, however, the number of Channel crossings has soared to a record high, with more than 25,000 migrants arriving in small boats since the start of the year.
The milestone was reached much earlier this year than in previous years; in the record year of 2022 it was not passed until late August.
As well as the arrests, 51 businesses, including car washes and restaurants, were issued with penalty notices that could see them handed hefty fines if they are found to have hired people without the right to work in the UK.
Eddy Montgomery, enforcement director at the Home Office, said officers were taking action 'around the clock' against 'those who think they can get away with working illegally'.
Asylum seekers in the UK are normally barred from work while their claim is being processed, although permission can be applied for after a year of waiting.
The Government recently announced it would share information about asylum hotel locations with food delivery firms in a bid to disrupt such hotspots.
Deliveroo, Uber Eats and Just Eat have also said they would ramp up facial verification and fraud checks over the coming months to prevent people working as riders without permission.
Chris Philp, the shadow home secretary, said: 'Labour are now boasting about arrests, but we know they are too scared to actually deport anyone. People breaking the law are still being put up in hotels and handed benefits. It's a racket and Labour are letting it run.
'Illegal working is a pull factor sold by smugglers as a reward to break into our country and cross the Channel. That is why the Conservative Party is calling for new action – anyone who plays the system should have their status stripped, wages confiscated, and be deported.'
