A RECORD number of illegal workers have been arrested in the last year – with more than 8,000 delivery drivers, car wash workers, and nail salon technicians nicked in raids over 12 months.
Under Operation Sterling, arrests rose by 63 per cent from last year, with more than 1,000 illegal immigrants subsequently kicked out of the country.
It is the highest rate of arrests since 2011, when records began, statistics show.
Those held include three Brazilian nationals who were arrested during a raid on a barbershop in Battersea, South London on September 18.
Meanwhile, on 17 September, 21 arrests were made for illegal working across the West Midlands at construction businesses.
On 28 August, 15 men of Kazakhstani, Turkish, Georgian, Uzbekistani, Kyrgyz and Tajikistani nationalities, were arrested for illegal working at a solar farm in Bristol.
Footage from a recent raid in Ealing, West London, shows Deliveroo and JustEat drivers being pulled over and questioned by Immigration Enforcement.
Uninsured bikes are then loaded into the back of a truck while workers are forced to walk home.
The Sun’s investigation previously found that small boat migrants living in taxpayer funded hotels were illegally working for the food delivery companies, leading to a major crackdown.
Labour is introducing new right to work checks which aim to close loopholes which allow illegal immigrants to work in the gig economy.
It will mean bosses who fail to check the immigration status of their employees could be jailed for up to five years, face fines of £60,000 per illegal worker and have their businesses closed.
Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood, said: “Illegal working creates an incentive for people attempting to arrive in this country illegally. No more.
“Those found to be illegally working in beauty salons, car washes and as delivery drivers will be arrested, detained and removed from this country.
“I will do whatever it takes to secure Britain’s borders.”
Labour has promised to introduce Digital IDs in a bid to crackdown on illegal working by the end of the parliament.
