More than 200 people suspected of working illegally in Northern Ireland have been arrested over the past year as part of what the Home Office described as the UK’s biggest-ever crackdown on illegal employment.
The arrests, made by Immigration Enforcement teams between October 2024 and September 2025, mark a 54% increase compared with the previous year.
The Home Office said the operation formed part of a wider UK-wide campaign to target illegal workers and employers who breach immigration rules. Across the UK, officials said more than 8,000 people suspected of working illegally were detained in the past 12 months, with over 1,000 foreign nationals subsequently removed from the country.
Crackdown on rogue employers
The government said the clampdown — a £5m enforcement initiative — was focused on businesses that often employ casual or temporary staff, including fast-food outlets, car washes, and beauty salons.
A Home Office spokesperson said the effort aimed to “shrink the black economy” and penalise employers “who exploit vulnerable workers and undermine legitimate businesses.”
Three businesses in Kilkeel (County Down) and Larne and Carnlough (County Antrim) were recently raided and issued civil penalty referral notices. The Home Office said they could face “hefty fines if found liable.”
Expanding right-to-work checks
As part of the crackdown, the government confirmed it is expanding right-to-work checks into the gig economy, where ministers say illegal working is becoming more common.
This includes tighter monitoring of delivery and rideshare services, which rely heavily on flexible and short-term employment.
A Home Office statement said:
“Illegal working creates unfair competition for law-abiding employers and puts pressure on public services. This operation shows we will not tolerate people flouting the rules.”
‘No more illegal working’
Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood said the government would “do whatever it takes” to secure the country’s borders and stop illegal working.
“Illegal working creates an incentive for people attempting to arrive in this country illegally. No more,” she said.
“Those found to be illegally working in beauty salons, car washes and as delivery drivers will be arrested, detained and removed from this country.”
The Home Office said enforcement teams are carrying out hundreds of visits each week to businesses across the UK, often acting on intelligence from the public and other government agencies.
Officials said the campaign is designed to “disrupt criminal networks,” deter illegal migration, and support legitimate employers who follow the law.
