In a significant nationwide enforcement operation, UK immigration authorities have arrested 171 food delivery riders suspected of working illegally, with 60 now facing deportation. The week-long crackdown, which took place last month, highlights a renewed government focus on illegal working within the gig economy.
Midlands Restaurant Raid Leads to Arrests
The operation included a raid on The Jade Wok restaurant in Solihull, where two Chinese nationals were detained for suspected immigration offences. These arrests form part of a broader series of coordinated actions across the country targeting individuals working illegally on delivery platforms.
Ministerial Talks with Delivery Giants
The enforcement drive comes after a Government minister held direct talks with leading food delivery firms Deliveroo, Just Eat, and Uber Eats. The discussions centred on the issue of illegal workers using their platforms. Border Security Minister Alex Norris issued a stern warning, stating: "These results should send a clear message: if you are working illegally in this country, you will be arrested and removed."
Minister Norris further emphasised the government's intent, saying, "As well as delivering record levels of enforcement, we are tightening the law to clamp down on illegal working in the delivery sector to root out this criminality from our communities." He described the action as part of the most sweeping changes to illegal migration policy in modern times.
Nationwide Arrests and Enforcement
Beyond the Solihull case, the Home Office detailed further arrests from the operation. On Newham's High Street in east London, officers apprehended four riders of Bangladeshi and Indian nationality. In a separate action in Norwich city centre, three Indian nationals were arrested, with two subsequently detained pending removal from the UK.
The government asserts that this coordinated crackdown aims to reduce the incentives that draw people to the UK illegally while significantly scaling up removal operations. The focus on the food delivery sector indicates a strategic shift towards addressing illegal working within specific high-visibility industries.
