Six people working for the delivery company Evri in South London have been arrested following an immigration raid. The Home Office said the raid was part of efforts to crack down on illegal working in the delivery sector.
Details of the Raid
On July 9, officers visited Evri in Croydon, where three Brazilian nationals, two Pakistani nationals and an Indian national were arrested for various immigration offences. The Home Office said the individuals have been placed on immigration bail, subject to strict conditions, while further inquiries take place.
As part of the operation, the Home Office raided two other Evri delivery centres in Redditch, Worcestershire and Crawley, West Sussex. Four people were also arrested in these raids; one Pakistani national in Redditch and a Gambian national, a Ghanaian national and a Pakistani national in Crawley. All four were arrested for overstaying their visas.
Potential Penalties
The Government said it will now look to remove them from the UK as soon as possible. The Home Office said the liable employer could face a substantial fine of up to £60,000 per worker if it is found they employed illegal workers and failed to conduct the relevant pre-employment checks.
It is understood to be a common practice for companies in the delivery sector to use subcontractors for their recruitment.
Official Statements
Eddy Montgomery, director of enforcement, compliance and crime at the Home Office, said: "I want to thank my officers up and down the country who carry out these operations every day. We are committed to working closely with companies to ensure they are compliant. However, we will never hesitate to take enforcement action to crack down on those who flout the law."
An Evri spokesperson said: "We take our employment responsibilities very seriously, and right-to-work checks are carried out for all employees. We remain committed to cooperating fully and constructively with the Home Office in relation to their enquiries."
