Mon Feb 10 12:07:31 UTC 2025: ## UK Launches Nationwide Crackdown on Illegal Workers, Arrests Surge

**London, February 10, 2025** – The UK government launched a large-scale operation targeting illegal workers across the country, resulting in a significant increase in arrests and penalties. Home Secretary Yvette Cooper announced a “UK-wide blitz” that saw Immigration Enforcement teams conduct raids on 828 premises in January—a 48% increase compared to the previous January—leading to 609 arrests, a 73% rise year-on-year.

The crackdown disproportionately targeted restaurants, takeaways, cafes, and businesses in the food and beverage industry. One raid on an Indian restaurant in Humberside alone resulted in seven arrests and four detentions.

Cooper stated that the government is committed to enforcing immigration rules and tackling the exploitation of illegal migrants, which she linked to the dangerous Channel crossings and abuse of vulnerable individuals. The operation is part of the Labour government’s ongoing efforts to address illegal immigration, as highlighted by the Border Security, Asylum and Immigration Bill currently before Parliament.

The Home Office reported a 38% increase in illegal working crackdowns and arrests between July 5, 2024, and January 31, 2025, compared to the same period the previous year. Over 1,090 civil penalty notices were issued to employers, with fines reaching up to £60,000 per worker.

Eddy Montgomery, Director of Enforcement, Compliance and Crime at the Home Office, emphasized the government’s commitment to pursuing those who flout immigration laws and protecting vulnerable workers. The Home Office also highlighted its work to remove foreign criminals and immigration offenders, boasting record removals since the July 2024 general election, including large-scale deportation flights.

A new international campaign is also underway to discourage illegal entry into the UK, using social media to expose the realities faced by migrants who enter the country illegally. The new Border Security Bill aims to provide law enforcement with additional powers to combat organized crime.

The Conservative opposition criticized the bill as insufficient, calling for tougher measures and a stricter approach to immigration, arguing that the UK is not “a hotel” but “our home.”

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