Home Office reports a significant increase in arrests for illegal work in Wales and the West of England, with 101 arrests in January.
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Last month, they checked 828 locations across the UK. These included nail salons, supermarkets, and restaurants. Also, they checked car washes. This is a 48% increase compared to previous years.
The Home Secretary said rules must be followed. She added that employers exploit illegal migrants. The Home Office has spoken about false promises. People are told they can easily live and work here.
The spokesperson shared that illegal work is connected to bad conditions. People face low pay and long hours. Dishonest employers avoid taxes that help the economy. They also undercut honest companies.
Enforcement teams target many sectors. Many recent checks focused on food businesses. Restaurants, cafes, and takeaways were of concern. The food industry also saw checks happen.
The government’s plan aims to fix the UK immigration system. Increased enforcement stops illegal work. This is just the start of actions across the country. The goal is less irregular migration overall.
A new bill will give law enforcement more power. It will allow them to fight organized crime. They can now search electronic devices. They will look for info on immigration crimes.
Eddy Montgomery talked about the teams’ hard work. He said location doesn’t matter to officers. There is no hiding from them, even in rural locations. They will pursue businesses exploiting workers.
Eddy said that he is proud of the teams. Their work shows a pledge to crack down on rule breakers. They aim to stop those who flout immigration laws.