Immigration Enforcement teams have arrested more than 1,250 illegal workers across London since the start of 2026, according to the Home Office. The arrests are part of a UK-wide clampdown that has seen enforcement activity double in the last two years.
Raids target restaurants, caravan sites, and construction
Officers detained 15 people at a Lebanese restaurant in Westminster over multiple visits, leading to the venue's licence being revoked in February. In March, a further 18 people suspected of illegally working in construction and cleaning roles at a Bromley caravan site were taken into custody.
Morenieke Weinand, Immigration, Enforcement and Compliance (ICE) lead for Central London, said: "Our enforcement activity continues day in, day out, across London. We want our communities to know we are cracking down on this illegal activity and ensuring businesses play by the rules."
UK-wide surge in enforcement
The first half of the year saw illegal working visits in the UK jump to 7,270, a 31 per cent increase on the same period in 2025, according to the Home Office. These visits led to 4,756 arrests, bringing the total to 17,000 since July 2024.
There has also been a 50 per cent rise in illegal workers being returned to their home countries, totalling 2,357. The new figures follow a week-long, multi-agency crackdown on organised immigration crime across the UK in June.
Joint operations with police forces
Alongside 39 police forces, Immigration Enforcement visited over 900 businesses and made 269 immigration-related arrests, 57 of which were linked to small boat arrivals. Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood said: "Illegal working undercuts honest workers and legal businesses.
"This government has put more resources into Immigration Enforcement to crack down on it. This surge in enforcement activity takes us to the highest level in British history. Illegal workers and rogue employers have nowhere to hide."
Targeted arrests and new employer duties
Nine of these arrests were made at residential addresses in Southall and Wembley, where suspects were thought to be working illegally as delivery drivers. From October, companies hiring gig economy and zero-hours workers will be legally required to carry out checks to confirm anyone working in their name is eligible to work in the UK.
Those who fail to do so could face hefty penalties, including fines of up to £60,000 per worker, director disqualifications and potential prison sentences of up to five years. The Home Secretary has announced that she will double the Immigration Enforcement budget by 2028/29 and boost workforce numbers by 60 per cent.
