Latest news with #illegalwork
Daily Mail
a day ago
- Daily Mail
Arrests of undocumented migrants working illegally in UK surge 51 per cent as Home Office raids nail bars, building sites and restaurants
Arrests for illegal work have surged 51 per cent this past year after the Home Office raided restaurants, nail bars and construction sites throughout the UK. More than 6,400 people have been arrested over the last 12 months as police focus on 'unscrupulous' employers who exploit undocumented migrants. The data from the Home Office reveals that more than 9,000 businesses were visited for checks to be made on paperwork and working conditions. It did not provide how many of the arrests led to charges, convictions or deportations but said immigration enforcement officials had 'intensified' their work to 'tackle those abusing the UK immigration system and exploiting vulnerable people'. The Home Office said said there were a range of industries exploiting migrant workers with businesses often subjecting migrants to 'squalid conditions and illegal working hours' and below-minimum wages. Minister for Border Security and Asylum, Dame Angela Eagle, said: 'For too long, employers have been able to take on and exploit migrants, with people allowed to arrive and work here illegally. 'This will no longer be tolerated on our watch. That's why we are ramping up our enforcement activity and introducing tougher laws to finally get a grip of our immigration and asylum system. 'Under our Plan for Change, we will continue to root out unscrupulous employers and disrupt illegal workers who undermine our border security.' The video was released as part of the Home Office's attempts to project a tough stance on immigration enforcement It is a legal requirement for employers to carry out Right to Work checks and those who fail to do so face hefty penalties including fines of up to £60,000 per worker, director disqualifications and potential prison sentences of up to five years. Over the past year, the government said it had returned almost 30,000 people who did not have the right to be in the UK. In one case at a construction site in Belfast's historic Titanic Quarter in March, officers made 36 arrests with offences ranged from breaching visa conditions to illegal entry in the UK with no permission to work. Elsewhere, 9 arrests were made at a caravan park in Surrey last month following intelligence individuals were working illegally as delivery drivers in the gig economy. Meanwhile, 9 people were also arrested in Bradford in March as officers intercepted a popular illegal working pick up point in Naples Street. Director of Enforcement, Compliance and Crime at Immigration Enforcement Eddy Montgomery said: 'Our work to tackle illegal working is vital in not only bringing the guilty to account, but also in protecting vulnerable people from exploitation. 'I'm incredibly proud of our enforcement teams across the country for their hard work, skill and co-operation on these often challenging but highly important operations.'
BBC News
a day ago
- Politics
- BBC News
Illegal work arrests double in year as police target 'unscrupulous' employers
Arrests for illegal work have doubled in a year as police focus on "unscrupulous" employers who exploit undocumented migrants, the government officers arrested more than 6,400 people in the past year in raids at businesses across the UK, data released by the Home Office shows. It said the figure is 51% higher than the previous year. It did not provide numbers as to how many arrests led to charges, convictions or said immigration enforcement officials had "intensified" their work to "tackle those abusing the UK immigration system and exploiting vulnerable people". Officers had visited more than 9,000 businesses - among them restaurants, nail bars and construction sites - to check paperwork and working businesses had often subjected migrants to "squalid conditions and illegal working hours" as well as below-minimum Home Office said there were a range of industries exploiting migrant one case in Surrey, officers arrested nine people at a caravan park who had been working as delivery one one major operation in March, officers arrested 36 people at a building site in Belfast's Titanic Quarter. Some had breached visa conditions while others didn't have working Enforcement director Eddy Montgomery said there were many cases where people travelling to the UK were "sold a lie by smuggling gangs that they will be able to live and work freely in the UK."In reality, they often end up facing squalid living conditions, minimal pay and inhumane working hours," he Angela Eagle, the minister for border security and asylum, said the government would "continue to root out unscrupulous employers and disrupt illegal workers who undermine our border security".The government said it had also returned nearly 30,000 people over the past year who did not have the right to be in the has said it is cracking down on illegal migration, setting out its plans in a White Paper to tighten work visas and those overstaying. It scrapped a special visa for care workers introduced during the pandemic, noting that this had been a pathway exploited by was mixed reaction to the plans, with some business sectors decrying the restrictions on work visas, while some Conservative opponents said the reforms didn't go far enough to stop illegal most recent data shows that approximately 44,000 people have entered the UK illegally in the year to March 2025, more than 80% through small boat journeys.
Sky News
a day ago
- Politics
- Sky News
Arrests of illegal migrant workers increase by 51% in year since Labour elected
Arrests of migrants working illegally in the UK have increased by 51% in the year since the general election, after the government targeted restaurants, nail bars, and construction sites. From 5 July 2024 - the day after Labour won the election - to 31 May 2025, 6,410 people have been arrested on suspicion of working illegally, according to Home Office figures. This is a rise of 51% on the previous year when the Conservatives were in government, the department says. As part of Labour's Plan for Change, enforcement officials have made 9,000 visits to restaurants, nail bars, and construction sites, among other premises, to root out those suspected of working without a visa - a 48% increase in activity during the previous year. Video footage shows the moment 36 people were arrested at a construction site in Belfast 's Titanic Quarter where enforcement officials uncovered people breaching their visa conditions and working in the UK having entered the country illegally. In Surrey last month, nine people were arrested at a caravan park after intelligence revealed it was being used for illegal delivery drivers. In Bradford in March, a further nine people were arrested after officers identified a popular pick-up spot for illegal workers. People traffickers often trick migrants into deadly small boat crossings by promising they will be able to find work in the UK, when in reality, those arrive safely are instead forced into squalid conditions, for no or little money. Employers are supposed to carry out right-to-work checks on all new employees who come from abroad - with those who fail to do so facing £60,000 fines per worker, director disqualifications, and prison sentences of up to five years. 30,000 returned to home countries Alongside the arrests, since Labour came to power, almost 30,000 people who had no right to be in the UK have been returned to their home countries, according to Home Office data. The government says it is also introducing tougher laws, extending right-to-work checks, and targeting particular sectors known to be linked to illegal workers. Dame Angela Eagle, minister for border security and asylum, said: "For too long, employers have been able to take on and exploit migrants, with people allowed to arrive and work here illegally. "This will no longer be tolerated on our watch. That's why we are ramping up our enforcement activity and introducing tougher laws to finally get a grip of our immigration and asylum system." Eddy Montgomery, director of enforcement, compliance and crime for immigration enforcement, added: "Our work to tackle illegal working is vital in not only bringing the guilty to account, but also in protecting vulnerable people from exploitation.
BBC News
23-05-2025
- BBC News
Nine people arrested in Outwood on suspicion of working illegally
Nine people have been arrested by a Home Office immigration enforcement team on suspicion of working illegally as delivery drivers in were detained at a caravan site in Green Lane, Outwood, in the early hours of Tuesday, said the Home Brazilian men, one Brazilian woman, two Indian men and an Indian woman were arrested on suspicion of "substituting for delivery riders and completing food deliveries on their behalf without the right to work in the UK," a Home Office spokesperson of those arrested were placed on strict immigration bail and are required to report regularly to the Home Office. Two individuals have been detained pending their removal from the UK.
Independent Singapore
15-05-2025
- Independent Singapore
M'sia-registered motorbike spotted making Grab and foodpanda deliveries in Newton area
Photos taken from SRX Property and IG/@foodpandasg SINGAPORE: A Malaysian-registered motorcycle seen making food deliveries for Grab and foodpanda at a Balmoral Road condominium has stirred concerns among residents, raising fresh questions about illegal foreign food delivery riders operating in Singapore. The incident, which occurred on May 4 at around 7 p.m., was captured on video and shared with citizen journalism site Stomp by several condo residents. 'I'm submitting this video on behalf of a food delivery rider who captured it,' said one resident, 'The video shows a Malaysian motorcycle carrying Grabfood and foodpanda food delivery orders.' She added, 'We believe the Malaysian motorcyclist was delivering those food orders and thus was doing something illegal.' The sighting has reignited worries about foreigners without valid work passes taking up gig work in Singapore's tightly regulated labour market. Concerns over such practices were previously raised in Parliament in October 2024. In response to a parliamentary question, the Ministry of Manpower (MOM) had said it was aware of the issue and had been working with food delivery platforms to tackle the problem. 'MOM has worked with food delivery platform operators to advise riders against allowing foreigners to use or share their food delivery accounts,' the ministry said in a written reply. The ministry added that platform operators have been urged to enhance their account verification processes to prevent misuse by unauthorised parties. 'Working through platform operators is more effective and efficient than conducting proactive inspection, given the decentralised and mobile nature of food delivery work,' the MOM said. Between January and June 2024, MOM received 14 complaints related to suspected illegal foreign riders. Of those, only one case resulted in enforcement action, with the remaining found to be unsubstantiated. Last November, four foreigners were charged with working illegally as food delivery riders without valid work passes. Under Singaporean law, such offences can result in fines of up to $20,000, imprisonment of up to two years, or both.
