London, United Kingdom — British authorities have arrested hundreds of people in a nationwide clampdown on migrants working illegally as delivery drivers, in one of the first major enforcement drives under Prime Minister Keir Starmer’s government.
The coordinated raids targeted individuals suspected of breaching immigration laws by working without proper documentation for app-based and courier delivery services. Officials said the operation was part of a broader push to address irregular immigration and tighten oversight of the gig economy, which critics say has become a common entry point for undocumented workers.
According to the Home Office, immigration enforcement teams carried out spot checks in multiple cities over recent weeks, identifying and detaining hundreds of individuals. Many were found using false identities or documents to secure work with major delivery firms.
Prime Minister Starmer, who campaigned on a promise to restore “fairness and control” to the immigration system, has faced growing political pressure to act on irregular migration amid rising asylum applications and concerns over labour exploitation. His government has pledged to pair tougher enforcement with measures to ensure companies take greater responsibility for verifying workers’ legal status.
Rights groups have warned that heavy-handed crackdowns risk pushing undocumented workers further into unsafe, unregulated jobs. They argue that the government should focus on creating clearer, safer legal migration pathways and tackling the criminal networks that profit from exploitation.
Officials say the arrests will be followed by swift deportation proceedings in cases where individuals are found to have no right to remain in the UK. The Home Office also confirmed it will be reviewing employment practices in the delivery sector to ensure compliance with immigration laws.
The government insists the clampdown is not just about border control, but about protecting workers from exploitation and ensuring fair competition for legal employees.
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