Seventeen people suspected of working illegally as delivery drivers have been arrested following a raid at a caravan park in Bristol. The Home Office received a tip-off leading to the operation, which resulted in the apprehension of all the individuals. According to the Home Office, the 17 arrested individuals were believed to be working unlawfully as delivery drivers. Of those detained, 13 had overstayed their permitted leave, two had breached their visa conditions, and two had violated their immigration bail conditions. Of the 17 arrested, 13 have been detained pending potential removal from the UK. The remaining four individuals were put on immigration bail and are required to report regularly to the Home Office.
Delivery drivers often employed by prominent companies are paid per job rather than being direct employees, leading to longer working hours and lower earnings compared to the national minimum wage. Exploiters of the labour market typically target migrants seeking quick income, subjecting them to unsafe working conditions for minimal pay. The Home Office stated that this raid is part of a broader effort to combat illegal working and the exploitation of vulnerable individuals. It forms part of an “intensified crackdown” on illegal working activities.
Minister for border security and asylum, Angela Eagle, emphasised the government’s commitment to tackling illegal working and the mistreatment of undocumented workers. The Home Office aims to eliminate unsafe and exploitative conditions faced by those working without the correct immigration status and worker’s rights. Organised criminal gangs often facilitate exploitation and even modern-day slavery in such circumstances. To combat these practices, the Home Office is establishing the new Border Security Command to coordinate law enforcement and intelligence agencies in addressing organised immigration crime.
Director of enforcement, compliance and crime at Immigration Enforcement, Eddy Montgomery, reiterated the government’s stance on enforcing immigration laws and preventing abuses in the labour market. The operation sends a strong message to those engaging in illegal employment practices and those working without proper immigration status that such activities will not be tolerated. Upholding border security and holding criminals accountable for exploiting vulnerable workers are top priorities for the Home Office.