Arrests surged, doubling since January, with increased enforcement across Wales and West England.
The Home Office shared this data. They said January had the highest enforcement in years. Across the UK, 609 arrests occurred, up from 352 last January.
Teams visited 828 places like nail bars, supermarkets, and car washes. Illegal working visits rose by 38%, mirroring the increase in arrests. This data covers July to January year-on-year. Officials issued 1,090 civil penalty notices. Employers may face fines up to £60,000 per worker.
People working illegally often face exploitation and might receive false job promises. This leads some to risk crossing the Channel, suffering poor conditions, low pay, and very long hours. Dishonest employers avoid taxes, hurting honest businesses, the Home Office stated.
The government aims to pass a new bill targeting organized crime and immigration gangs. It allows device searches for related information.
The Home Secretary commented on the importance of enforcing immigration rules. She emphasized that employers should not exploit migrants, and people must not work here illegally with impunity. She stated this draws people to risk dangerous crossings and harms vulnerable people and the economy.
She says new laws will target criminal gangs. An Enforcement Director said there’s nowhere to hide. They will target firms exploiting illegal workers and praised the teams for their hard work.