Fri Dec 05 11:24:52 UTC 2025: ## News Article: UK Cracks Down on Illegal Delivery Riders, Indians Among Those Detained

London – December 5, 2025: A UK-wide operation targeting illegal workers has resulted in the detention of 171 delivery riders, including a number of Indian nationals, who now face deportation. The Home Office Immigration Enforcement teams conducted “Operation Equalise” last month, stopping and checking delivery riders across the country.

The crackdown, which also netted Bangladeshi and Chinese nationals, is part of Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood’s strategy to curb illegal migration. The Home Office stated that enforcement actions in the past year have reached record levels, with over 11,000 checks and 8,000 arrests, increases of 51% and 63% respectively.

“These results should send a clear message: if you are working illegally in this country, you will be arrested and removed,” warned UK Border Security Minister Alex Norris.

Norris recently met with representatives from major food delivery platforms like Deliveroo, Just Eat, and Uber Eats to discuss measures to combat illegal working. This includes enhanced facial recognition checks and monitoring areas near asylum hotels.

The government also aims to target “dodgy shops” used to hide illicit activities like money laundering and illegal employment. New legislation, the Border Security, Asylum and Immigration Bill, expands right-to-work checks to the gig economy and threatens businesses employing illegal workers with hefty fines and potential closure. Bosses who fail to conduct these checks could face prison sentences of up to five years and fines of 60,000 pounds per illegal worker.

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