Latest news with #deliveryfirms
Daily Mail
2 days ago
- Daily Mail
Crackdown on asylum seekers taking jobs for delivery firms sees just 280 arrests after week-long operation
Police have arrested hundreds of asylum seekers taking jobs for delivery firms as part of a week long crackdown across the UK. A total of 1,780 people were stopped and spoken to as part of the operation, described as a 'nationwide intensification week', targeting illegal working hotspots across the UK between July 20 and 27. Of these, around 280 were arrested in areas including Hillingdon in north-west London, Dumfries in Scotland, and Birmingham. Some 89 have been detained pending removal from the country and 53 are now having their asylum support reviewed, which the Government said could result in their support being suspended or withdrawn. 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. Deliveroo, Uber Eats and Just Eat have pledged to ramp up facial verification and fraud checks over the coming months to prevent people illegally working as riders without permission from Government. Asylum seekers in the UK are normally barred from work while their claim is being processed, though permission can be applied for after a year of waiting. Border security minister Dame Angela Eagle 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.' 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'. Officials had indicated there would be an increase in work to target areas of suspected activity, as ministers hope to tackle the 'pull factors' attracting migrants to the UK. Immigration enforcement teams will receive £5 million from the £100 million in funding already announced for border security, aimed at increasing visits by officers in these areas over the coming months, it said. It comes after the Government announced it would share information about asylum hotel locations with food delivery firms in a bid to disrupt such hotspots. Shadow home secretary Chris Philp said the Conservatives wanted to strip asylum seekers of their status and deport them, if they work illegally, and claimed 'this story has only happened' because he 'exposed what Labour refused to see'. He described one hotel housing asylum seekers as a 'black-market, courier hub in plain sight', referring to food delivery riders he had seen allegedly operating out of the site without permission. 'Labour are now boasting about arrests, but we know they are too scared to actually deport anyone,' Mr Philp continued. 'People breaking the law are still being put up in hotels and handed benefits. It's a racket and Labour are letting it run.' The Tory politician visited an asylum hotel in central London and posted a video showing bicycles fitted with delivery boxes for Deliveroo, Just Eat and Uber Eats parked outside. Days later, the Home Office said it had called in all three companies for a dressing down – and the meeting led to pledges to increase the use of 'facial recognition' systems on rider apps, such as those used by banks to confirm someone's identity. However, Deliveroo was refused access to hotel location data despite assurances it would be treated confidentially, the Times reported. Shadow Home Office minister Katie Lam said at the time: 'The fact that the Home Office is refusing to help them just shows how topsy-turvy this country's approach to migration has become. 'Crossing the Channel illegally is a crime. Working here illegally is a crime. 'Too many people are brazenly breaking the rules and it's a disgrace that the Home Office is aiding and abetting them.'
Yahoo
2 days ago
- Yahoo
Hundreds arrested in 'week-long crackdown' on asylum seekers working for delivery companies
Hundreds of arrests have been made across the UK as part of a "week-long crackdown" on asylum seekers taking jobs for delivery firms. A total of 1,780 people were stopped and spoken to over suspected illegal working activity between 20 and 27 July. Some 280 were arrested as a result - in areas including Hillingdon in northwest London, Dumfries in Scotland, and Birmingham. Some 89 of those have been detained pending removal from the country and 53 are now having their asylum support reviewed, which the government said could result in their support being suspended or withdrawn. The Home Office described the operation as a "nationwide intensification week" targeting illegal working hotspots, with a focus on the gig economy, where work is assigned on a short-term or job-by-job basis, and people working as food delivery riders. Immigration enforcement teams will receive £5m from the £100m in funding already announced for border security, aimed at increasing visits by officers in these areas over the coming months. Deliveroo, Uber Eats and Just Eat have said they will ramp up facial verification and fraud checks over the coming months to prevent people working as riders without permission. Border security minister Dame Angela Eagle 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. " Meanwhile, 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". Read more from Sky News: Asylum seekers in the UK are normally barred from work while their claim is being processed, though permission can be applied for after a year of waiting. Officials had indicated there would be an increase in work to target areas of suspected activity, as ministers hope to tackle the "pull factors" attracting migrants to the UK. It comes after the government announced it would share information about asylum hotel locations with food delivery firms in a bid to disrupt such hotspots. Shadow home secretary Chris Philp said the Conservatives wanted to strip asylum seekers of their status and deport them, if they work illegally, and claimed "this story has only happened" because he "exposed what Labour refused to see". He described one hotel housing asylum seekers as a "black-market, courier hub in plain sight", referring to food delivery riders he had seen allegedly operating out of the site without permission. "Labour are now boasting about arrests, but we know they are too scared to actually deport anyone," Mr Philp continued. "People breaking the law are still being put up in hotels and handed benefits. "It's a racket and Labour are letting it run."
Sky News
2 days ago
- Sky News
Hundreds arrested in 'week-long crackdown' on asylum seekers working for delivery companies
Hundreds of arrests have been made across the UK as part of a "week-long crackdown" on asylum seekers taking jobs for delivery firms. A total of 1,780 people were stopped and spoken to over suspected illegal working activity between 20 and 27 July. Some 280 were arrested as a result - in areas including Hillingdon in northwest London, Dumfries in Scotland, and Birmingham. Some 89 of those have been detained pending removal from the country and 53 are now having their asylum support reviewed, which the government said could result in their support being suspended or withdrawn. 9:13 The Home Office described the operation as a "nationwide intensification week" targeting illegal working hotspots, with a focus on the gig economy, where work is assigned on a short-term or job-by-job basis, and people working as food delivery riders. Immigration enforcement teams will receive £5m from the £100m in funding already announced for border security, aimed at increasing visits by officers in these areas over the coming months. Deliveroo, Uber Eats and Just Eat have said they will ramp up facial verification and fraud checks over the coming months to prevent people working as riders without permission. Border security minister Dame Angela Eagle 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. " 1:04 Meanwhile, 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, though permission can be applied for after a year of waiting. Officials had indicated there would be an increase in work to target areas of suspected activity, as ministers hope to tackle the "pull factors" attracting migrants to the UK. It comes after the government announced it would share information about asylum hotel locations with food delivery firms in a bid to disrupt such hotspots. 8:26 Shadow home secretary Chris Philp said the Conservatives wanted to strip asylum seekers of their status and deport them, if they work illegally, and claimed "this story has only happened" because he "exposed what Labour refused to see". He described one hotel housing asylum seekers as a "black-market, courier hub in plain sight", referring to food delivery riders he had seen allegedly operating out of the site without permission. "Labour are now boasting about arrests, but we know they are too scared to actually deport anyone," Mr Philp continued. "People breaking the law are still being put up in hotels and handed benefits.
Yahoo
2 days ago
- Politics
- Yahoo
Hundreds arrested in week-long crackdown on suspected illegal working
Hundreds of arrests have been made as part of what the Government called a 'week-long crackdown' on asylum seekers taking jobs for delivery firms. A total of 1,780 people were stopped and spoken to at locations across the UK over suspected illegal working activity between July 20 and 27. Some 280 were arrested as a result, in areas including Hillingdon in north-west London, Dumfries in Scotland, and Birmingham, the Home Office said. Some 89 of those have been detained pending removal from the country and 53 are now having their asylum support reviewed, which the Government said could result in their support being suspended or withdrawn. The Home Office described the 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 £5 million from the £100 million in funding already announced for border security, aimed at increasing visits by officers in these areas over the coming months, it said. Border security minister Dame Angela Eagle 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. ' 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, though permission can be applied for after a year of waiting. Officials had indicated there would be an increase in work to target areas of suspected activity, as ministers hope to tackle the 'pull factors' attracting migrants to the UK. It comes after the Government announced it would share information about asylum hotel locations with food delivery firms in a bid to disrupt such hotspots. Shadow home secretary Chris Philp said the Conservatives wanted to strip asylum seekers of their status and deport them, if they work illegally, and claimed 'this story has only happened' because he 'exposed what Labour refused to see'. He described one hotel housing asylum seekers as a 'black-market, courier hub in plain sight', referring to food delivery riders he had seen allegedly operating out of the site without permission. 'Labour are now boasting about arrests, but we know they are too scared to actually deport anyone,' Mr Philp continued. 'People breaking the law are still being put up in hotels and handed benefits. 'It's a racket and Labour are letting it run.' Deliveroo, Uber Eats and Just Eat have said they will ramp up facial verification and fraud checks over the coming months to prevent people working as riders without permission.
The Independent
2 days ago
- The Independent
Hundreds of asylum seekers arrested in nationwide crackdown on illegal working
Hundreds of arrests have been made as part of a 'week-long crackdown' on asylum seekers working for delivery firms. A total of 1,780 people were stopped and spoken to at locations across the UK over suspected illegal working activity between July 20 and 27. Some 280 were arrested as a result, in areas including Hillingdon in north-west London, Dumfries in Scotland, and Birmingham, the Home Office said. Some 89 of those have been detained pending removal from the country and 53 are now having their asylum support reviewed, which the government said could result in their support being suspended or withdrawn. The Home Office described the 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 £5 million from the £100 million in funding already announced for border security, aimed at increasing visits by officers in these areas over the coming months, it said. Border security minister Dame Angela Eagle 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. ' 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, though permission can be applied for after a year of waiting. Officials had indicated there would be an increase in work to target areas of suspected activity, as ministers hope to tackle the 'pull factors' attracting migrants to the UK. It comes after the government 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 will ramp up facial verification and fraud checks over the coming months to prevent people working as riders without permission.
