On a damp morning in Croydon, three unmarked vans depart a car park, carrying a team from the Home Office's Immigration Enforcement unit. Their mission is clear: to act on intelligence and arrest individuals working illegally in the UK. Sky News was granted exclusive access to observe these operations, which the government is keen to highlight amid a significant increase in activity.
A Targeted Approach Based on Intelligence
The first stop for the enforcement team is a car wash in Lewisham, a business with a history of employing illegal workers. Intelligence suggested the practice had resumed. However, upon arrival in the rain, the scene was quiet. The two employees present were both Romanian nationals with legitimate right-to-work status.
The business owner, Amir Neziraj, explained his company had learned a costly lesson after being fined £30,000 several years ago for similar offences. "At that time, the rogue employees used fake passports," he said. "Obviously now you've got all the online stuff. You can check people's status. I don't want to be racking up fines. We are fully legit." He assured the officers they were welcome to inspect his premises at any time.
Arrests Made But Immediate Removal Proves Complex
The operation moved to its next target: a nail bar in Catford. Intelligence, which can come from the public, police, or other agencies, indicated the salon was employing illegal Chinese workers. Inside, two women were conducting treatments. Through phone interpreters, officers interviewed them and checked Home Office records.
Operation Lead Sarah Allen confirmed the outcome: "Both the workers are illegal." She outlined the team's ultimate goal: "Ultimately, what we're seeking to do is remove people from the UK, those not entitled to be here and not entitled to work." However, the process is not always swift. Officers will only detain someone if they believe removal can happen quickly; otherwise, individuals are often placed on bail.
The two women were arrested but then released on immigration bail. They must now report regularly to the authorities while their cases are processed. Home Office Minister Mike Tapp, who joined the raid, argued that even without immediate deportation, arrests are valuable. "They will have to report in - so we've got that closer control of these people," he told Sky News.
'A Long Way to Go' in Disrupting the Black Market
Minister Tapp pointed to progress in clearing backlogs, claiming a 39% reduction in legacy cases. However, he acknowledged the scale of the challenge: "We've got to keep going at this. There's still a long way to go. But today is an important demonstration of how seriously we're taking this."
The government's figures show a marked increase in enforcement since the Labour administration took office 18 months ago. Overall, there have been 12,300 arrests for illegal working, representing an 83% rise in arrest numbers. To date, 15% of those arrested have been removed from the country.
The financial deterrents are substantial. Employers face fines of up to £60,000 per illegal worker, while the workers themselves can also be penalised. The core aim is to dismantle the black-market economy that attracts illegal migrants, thereby reducing the 'pull factor' for dangerous journeys to the UK.
The raid in South London, involving a large team for a full morning, resulted in just two arrests, both individuals subsequently released on bail. It also included a fruitless visit to a premises that was closed. This underscores the hit-and-miss nature of intelligence-led operations, even as the Home Office intensifies its nationwide crackdown on illegal migration.
