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The UK is deporting 60 delivery riders caught working illegally following a nationwide immigration crackdown.
According to the Home Office, targeted enforcement in the gig economy led to 171 arrests across the country last month. Those detained included Chinese nationals at a Solihull restaurant, as well as Bangladeshi and Indian delivery riders in east London and Norwich.
The operation is part of the government’s wider effort to curb illegal employment and deter irregular migration. Home Office data shows 8,232 illegal working arrests were made in the year to September — a 63% increase from the previous year.
Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood recently announced reforms to the asylum system designed to make the UK less appealing to illegal migrants and to streamline deportations.
Border Security Minister Alex Norris said the government is removing illegal workers from the delivery sector to protect communities. He added: “These results send a clear message: if you work illegally in the UK, you will be arrested and removed. This is part of the most extensive overhaul of illegal migration rules in modern history.”
Ministers have also been collaborating with Deliveroo, Just Eat, and Uber Eats to combat abuse within the sector, strengthening identity checks to prevent account-sharing. In July, the Home Office agreed to provide food delivery companies with information on asylum hotel locations to identify potential hotspots for illegal working.
The crackdown coincides with the introduction of the new Border Security, Asylum and Immigration Act, which closes a loophole that previously exempted casual or subcontracted workers from proving their immigration status.
Employers who fail to conduct proper checks could face penalties of up to five years in prison, fines of £60,000 per illegal worker, and potential closure of their businesses.
