Illegal working arrests double in two years, Home Office says

Arrests of migrants working illegally in the UK have doubled since Labour has been in government, the Home Office has said.

It said more than 17,000 arrests had been made since July 2024, a 122% increase on the previous two years, with a record number of immigration raids and arrests in the last six months.

Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood said: "This surge in enforcement activity takes us to the highest level in British history. Illegal workers and rogue employers have nowhere to hide."

Reform UK said Labour was "insulting the intelligence of the British public" with these new figures.

The number of people arrested during immigration raids on businesses was increasing before Labour took office in July 2024.

According to the figures, since then there has been a 50% rise in individuals being returned to their home countries, a total of 2,357.

Immigration raids in the first six months of this year increased to 7,270, a 31% increase on the same period last year, leading to 4,756 arrests, a 20% rise.

The highest arrest rates were in London, the West Midlands and South West England.