Indian restaurants, nail bars, convenience stores, and car washes were part of a crackdown on illegal working in the United Kingdom, according to the Home Office.
Home Secretary Yvette Cooper told media that in January, Immigration Enforcement teams visited 828 locations, a 48% increase from 2024. They arrested 609 people, up 73% from the previous year.
The Home Office said many of these visits were to restaurants, takeaways, cafes, and businesses in the food, drink, and tobacco industries, the report said.
One visit to an Indian restaurant in Humberside resulted in seven arrests and four detentions.
Cooper said immigration rules must be followed and enforced. She added that employers who hire illegal workers have taken advantage of the situation and that this creates risks for people attempting to enter the UK illegally.
The new Border Security, Asylum and Immigration Bill, which aims to tackle criminal gangs, will return to Parliament this week, the report said.
Between July 5, 2024, and January 31, 2025, illegal working crackdowns and arrests rose by 38% compared to the previous year. A total of 1,090 civil penalties were issued, with employers facing fines of up to GBP 60,000 per worker.
Eddy Montgomery from the Home Office said they are committed to cracking down on illegal workers and protecting vulnerable people.
In January, the Home Office said it had removed 16,400 people since the 2024 general election, the highest number since 2018. Some of those removed were criminals convicted of serious offenses.
The UK is also working to stop illegal immigration through a new campaign to warn people about the dangers of illegal entry. Social media ads in countries like Vietnam and Albania show the risks people face when they try to enter the UK illegally.
The new Border Security, Asylum and Immigration Bill will give law enforcement more power to act against crime gangs, including the ability to seize mobile phones before arrest, the report added.
The Conservative Party has criticised the bill, calling it weak. They want stronger measures to control immigration.
