UK Immigration:7,100+ Arrested in Year, 6 Nabbed at Site

Six individuals suspected of illegal working were arrested this week at a major housing development in Bury St Edmunds, adding to the over 7,100 illegal worker arrests recorded across the UK in the past year. This figure, spanning from July 5, 2024, to June 28, 2025, represents a significant 50% increase in arrests compared to the previous 12-month period, as the government intensifies its efforts to combat illegal employment.

The recent operation, conducted by Suffolk Police and immigration enforcement officers on Wednesday, July 23, 2025, targeted the £42 million, 171-home Tayfen Court scheme. Concerns over illegal working and potential modern slavery offenses prompted the raid. All six individuals taken into custody were reportedly employed by the same subcontractor.

While specific ethnic breakdowns for the most recent arrests in Bury St Edmunds are not yet public, broader trends in UK illegal working arrests indicate a notable presence of certain nationalities. Home Office data from various operations show that individuals of Bangladeshi, Indian, and Pakistani descent frequently feature among those arrested for working without the legal right to do so, particularly in sectors like construction, restaurants, and nail bars. For instance, recent disclosed figures for overall non-UK national arrests by one police force showed Bangladeshi and Indian nationals among the top ten nationalities. While comprehensive national data on ethnicity for all illegal working arrests isn't always immediately available, these patterns are consistent across ongoing enforcement actions.

The subcontractor employing the arrested individuals at Tayfen Court now faces the prospect of substantial fines if they are found to have neglected crucial pre-employment checks. Employers across the UK are legally obliged to verify the right-to-work status of all employees, with penalties for non-compliance including fines of up to £60,000 per illegal worker, director disqualifications, and even potential prison sentences. Developers, such as Weston Homes in the case of Tayfen Court, are generally not the focus of these investigations, with authorities primarily targeting the immediate employers.

This heightened enforcement activity, part of the government's "Plan for Change," saw over 10,000 illegal working visits to businesses across various sectors nationwide in the last year. The Home Office states that this intensified approach is vital not only for holding accountable those who exploit immigration systems but also for protecting vulnerable individuals from exploitation and ensuring fair competition for legitimate businesses.