The UK has witnessed the highest level of illegal working arrests and raids in its history, with Immigration Enforcement teams leading a record-breaking effort across the country.
Latest figures show a 77% rise in raids since the current government took office, resulting in an 83% increase in arrests between July 2024 and December 2025. Over 17,400 raids targeted businesses such as nail bars, car washes, barbers, and takeaway shops, aiming to tackle illegal workers hiding in plain sight and undercutting honest employers.
The surge, which led to more than 12,300 arrests, was supported by a £5 million funding boost for Immigration Enforcement last year.
In Northern Ireland, officers carried out 187 raids in 2025, resulting in 234 arrests-a 76% and 169% increase respectively compared to 2024.
The government emphasizes that cracking down on illegal working is central to restoring order in the immigration system and deterring criminal gangs who exploit vulnerable workers and sell spaces on small boats.
This activity complements broader government efforts to remove 50,000 illegal migrants from the UK- a 23% increase under the current administration.
Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood said:
“There is no place for illegal working in our communities. That is why we have surged enforcement activity to the highest level in British history so illegal migrants in the black economy have nowhere to hide. I will stop at nothing to restore order and control to our borders.”
Northern Ireland Secretary Hilary Benn added:
“Illegal working undercuts honest businesses across Northern Ireland and fuels the criminal gangs who profit from human exploitation. This government has increased enforcement to record levels, and the message is clear: there is no place for those flouting the law.”
The rollout of body-worn video technology across all Immigration Enforcement teams, launched in September 2025, is expected to further support arrests and prosecutions.
Paul McHarron, Immigration Compliance and Enforcement Lead for Northern Ireland, said:
“Illegal working is against the law and will not be tolerated. My teams will continue working around the clock to ensure those involved face the full force of the law.”
High-profile raids last year included:
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VN Nail & Spa Salon, Belfast (1 May): Three Vietnamese workers arrested; one detained for removal.
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Europa Car Wash, Bangor (28 June): Four workers of Romanian, Ethiopian, and Jordanian nationality arrested; two detained for removal.
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Beijing House, Londonderry (25 October): Three Chinese workers arrested; a Civil Penalty Referral Notice served on the owner, with further investigations ongoing.
The government is also expanding right-to-work checks under the new Border Security, Asylum and Immigration Act to include gig, casual, subcontracted, and temporary workers. This ensures illegal workers cannot evade scrutiny.
The Organised Immigration Crime Domestic Taskforce, working with the National Crime Agency, police forces, Border Security Command, and Immigration Enforcement, has increased disruption of criminal smuggling gangs. Disruptions linked to migrant smuggling rose 33% in the past year, with nearly 4,000 incidents since July 2024. A new agreement with France now allows small-boat arrivals to be returned.
To further tighten controls, the government plans to introduce a mandatory digital ID to verify the right to work, simplifying checks for employers and making it harder for illegal migrants to find work.
Together, these measures form part of the government’s ongoing strategy to secure borders, crack down on illegal work, and tackle the criminal networks exploiting vulnerable migrants.
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News Source: GOV.UK