Illegal worker raids lead to record arrests

Record numbers of arrests of illegal workers in the West Midlands region have been announced by the Home Office.

Immigration enforcement visits to employers, including the beauty industry, delivery and warehousing sectors, went up by 49%, leading to a 22% increase in arrests of migrants working illegally in the last six months.

There were 884 visits, resulting in 701 arrests in 2026, after "targeted action across all business sectors across the region", the Home Office said.

In the first six months of the year, the number of illegal working visits across the UK rose by 31% compared to the same period last year, leading to a 20% increase in arrests.

On 10 June, a series of visits took place in Birmingham, with the Home Office adding officers "achieved significant disruption to an organised crime group as well as employers suspected of facilitating illegal working".

The activity resulted in nine arrests and the seizure of about £1,500 in cash.

On 18 May, an initiative involving West Midlands traffic police focusing on illegal courier drivers linked to subcontracted delivery routes resulted in 16 arrests and five vehicles being seized for not having insurance.

Operations targeting illegal construction workers took place on 23 March and resulted in more than a dozen arrests across four visits.

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