Nearly 20 migrants suspected of engaging in illegal delivery work were apprehended during a pre-dawn operation at a caravan park in southeast London.
Officers from the Metropolitan Police and Home Office immigration officials executed the raid at the site on Croydon Road, Bromley, shortly after 4:30 a.m. on Thursday, following a tip-off.
A total of nine women and nine men were taken into custody, with nationalities reported to include Brazilian, Polish, and Czech, according to the Home Office.
Authorities indicated that some of the individuals arrested were involved in a practice known as „substituting,“ where a person uses a legitimate delivery rider’s account to perform food deliveries without having the legal right to work in the United Kingdom.
Officials noted that many of those detained had overstayed their visas and acknowledged their illegal employment status.
Of the individuals arrested at the Bromley caravan site, eight have been placed in detention as preparations are made for their removal from the UK.
The remaining ten individuals were released on immigration bail pending further investigations.
This operation is part of a broader government initiative aimed at combating illegal employment and increasing deportations.
The Home Office has been focusing on gig-economy workers nationwide, including significant enforcement actions in London.
In December, numerous delivery riders were arrested during a crackdown on illegal work.
There has been an 83% increase in arrests related to illegal employment across the UK, along with a 77% rise in enforcement raids.
London experienced the highest level of enforcement activity last year, with over 2,700 visits resulting in nearly 2,200 arrests, marking increases of 35% and 47%, respectively, compared to 2024.
Border Security and Asylum Minister Alex Norris stated, „We are coming down hard on illegal working and ramping up removals of those with no right to be here. This is why we have surged our immigration enforcement activity to the highest level in British history to eliminate the incentives that attract illegal migrants to the UK. My message is clear: illegal workers will be swiftly arrested, detained, and removed whenever possible.“
Immigration Enforcement Inspector Kelly Griffiths remarked, „I hope this raid sends a clear message that those involved in illegal working will face the full force of the law. We will continue to work around the clock to ensure our immigration rules are respected and enforced.“
The government is also set to introduce stricter regulations for companies employing gig-economy workers.
Under proposed legislation, businesses hiring individuals for delivery or similar roles will be required to verify their legal right to work in the UK. Employers who neglect to perform these checks could face fines of up to £60,000 per worker, director bans, and potential prison sentences of up to five years.
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