Arrests for illegal working in the UK have reached record levels, rising by 63 percent following the government’s largest-ever enforcement crackdown under Operation Sterling.
The operation involved a £5 million investment to target illegal workers in sectors such as takeaways, car washes, beauty salons and delivery services.
Between October 2024 and September 2025, over 8,000 arrests were made from 11,000 raids, and more than 1,050 foreign nationals were removed from the country.
The government is tightening right to work checks to cover gig, casual and subcontracted workers, introducing harsher penalties for employers who fail to comply, and planning a mandatory digital ID system to prevent illegal employment.
These measures form part of a broader strategy to reduce illegal migration, shrink the black economy and deter dangerous small boat crossings.
Kevin O’Sullivan interviews director of Centre for Migration Control Robert Bates.
Credit to : TalkTV