The Home Office has announced the deportation of sixty food delivery drivers discovered to be working in the UK without the required legal documentation. This action follows a major enforcement operation last month that led to the arrest of more than 170 riders nationwide.
Details of the Enforcement Operation
The individuals facing removal include two workers from a Chinese restaurant in Solihull, four riders from India and Bangladesh arrested in Newham, East London, and two Indian nationals detained in Norwich. This crackdown coincides with high-level meetings between government ministers and leading food delivery platforms, including Deliveroo, Just Eat, and Uber Eats.
Officials are urging these companies to intensify their vetting procedures. Proposed measures include the implementation of randomised facial recognition checks for riders. The platforms are also being provided with data, such as the locations of asylum accommodation, to help verify applicants' right to work more effectively.
Tougher Laws and Hefty Penalties
New legislation will close a legal loophole that previously exempted casual or temporary workers from having to prove their immigration status. The consequences for employers are severe: businesses found to be employing illegal workers risk a fine of up to £60,000 per individual, a potential prison sentence of five years for those responsible, and the possibility of being forcibly closed.
Enforcement activity has surged significantly. Official data reveals that 8,232 people were arrested for illegal working in the year to September, marking a sharp 63 per cent increase compared to the previous twelve-month period.
Government Stance and Wider Immigration Reforms
Border Security Minister Alex Norris stated: ‘These results should send a clear message: if you are working illegally in this country, you will be arrested and removed. We are tightening the law to clamp down on illegal working in the delivery sector to root out this criminality from our communities.’
This drive forms part of a broader set of immigration reforms spearheaded by Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood, aimed at reducing overall migration figures. Key changes include a reformed asylum system where successful applicants will receive temporary leave subject to regular review, and longer waiting times for indefinite leave and citizenship. The government has cited Denmark's strict asylum model as an influence.
In a parallel effort against illicit finance, authorities have recovered some £300 million in criminal assets over the past year.
Criticism and Community Impact
The government's approach has not been without controversy. Some MPs have expressed concern that the plans may hinder the UK's ability to meet its human rights obligations.
Criticism has also come from workers' rights groups. Larbi Neron, a BAME rights officer at the Independent Workers Union of Great Britain, accused the Home Office of using arrests to ‘victimise’ migrant workers. ‘From our experience these stops are almost exclusively aimed at the black, brown, and migrant workers who make up the vast majority of the workforce, regardless of their immigration status,’ Neron told the Standard.
