The Home Office has highlighted a significant increase in raids and arrests targeting illegal workers in the UK. According to recent figures, immigration enforcement teams conducted 828 visits to premises such as nail bars, restaurants, convenience stores, and car washes throughout January alone—marking a 48% rise compared to the previous year. Arrests also saw a notable increase, rising by 73% to 609 arrests from 352 in January 2024.
In addition, from 5 July to 31 January, both the number of illegal working visits and arrests surged by approximately 38%, compared to the same period the year before. During this timeframe, the Home Office also issued 1,090 civil penalty notices to employers who were found employing illegal workers, with fines of up to £60,000 per worker for those found liable.
Despite the uptick in enforcement activities, Peter Walsh, a senior researcher at the Migration Observatory, a migration policy thinktank based at the University of Oxford, expressed caution about interpreting these figures as a sign of substantial impact on illegal immigration. Speaking on the Today programme, Walsh pointed out that while raids and arrests have increased, the overall number of civil penalty notices issued to employers is still below pre-pandemic levels. He explained:
“While the figures show a rise in business visits and arrests in January, it’s important to remember that these statistics represent just one month. We should be cautious about drawing broad conclusions from such short-term data.”
Walsh also noted that the number of civil penalty notices issued during the first seven months under the Labour government—over 1,000—reflects a continuing upward trend from historically low levels seen during the pandemic. However, he said the current figures still fall short of the levels seen in previous years, noting a significant reduction compared to a decade ago.
Although Walsh acknowledged that raids may result in more individuals being removed from the UK and may deter some employers from hiring illegal workers, he questioned whether these efforts would significantly reduce the number of people attempting to cross the English Channel in small boats.
He explained, “Raids do contribute to the removal of people from the UK, but they are only one route in the wider removals process. They can also deter employers from hiring illegal workers, which may make some think twice. However, it’s unlikely that these efforts will have a major impact on the number of people attempting to cross the Channel in small boats.”
Walsh further emphasized that while raids might discourage people coming to the UK for work, they are unlikely to deter those seeking asylum. “The reality is that a large proportion of individuals arriving in small boats are seeking protection,” he said. “Data from 2018 to September 2023 shows that 93% of small boat arrivals claimed asylum, with many granted asylum and others succeeding on appeal.”
The Home Office’s recent crackdown on illegal working, while important in addressing illegal employment, appears unlikely to have a major effect on the flow of small boat crossings, which continues to be a complex issue, particularly for those seeking asylum. The government faces ongoing challenges in balancing enforcement measures with the need to support individuals seeking refuge in the UK.
tay tuned to London Pulse News for further updates on the government’s immigration enforcement strategies and their potential impact on asylum seekers and illegal immigration.
