A major crackdown on suspected illegal working has led to over 20 arrests across the West Midlands, following coordinated immigration enforcement operations in Birmingham, Coventry and Hereford.
The Home Office confirmed that delivery drivers operating in the gig economy were a primary focus of the initiative. Images shared from the raids depict enforcement officers detaining individuals, including two men at Birmingham New Street railway station, allegedly caught using modified e-bikes to carry out food deliveries. The operation forms part of a wider government strategy aimed at preventing illegal migration and protecting legitimate employment practices in the UK.
The two-day operation, described by officials as “intelligence-led,” resulted in the arrest of 21 foreign nationals. The individuals hailed from a wide range of countries including Eritrea, Guinea, Italy, India, Pakistan, Vietnam, and Bangladesh. They were apprehended for a series of immigration offences and are now subject to removal proceedings.
The action marks one of the most visible enforcement campaigns in recent months, amid growing ministerial pressure to clamp down on undocumented working, particularly in sectors known for high volumes of casual or unregulated labour such as food delivery, construction, nail salons, and car washes.
Matthew Foster, the Home Office’s lead on immigration enforcement in the region, said the operation highlights the risks associated with illegal employment. “Illegal working is not a victimless crime. It undercuts legitimate businesses and often places vulnerable people at risk of exploitation,” Mr Foster stated. “Those who choose to break the law by working illegally or employing illegal workers should expect to be caught and face the consequences.”
Ministers have increasingly turned their attention to the gig economy, particularly food delivery platforms such as Deliveroo, Uber Eats and Just Eat. In June, these companies agreed to tighten their security checks and employee verification procedures, after revelations that some asylum seekers were unlawfully using shared accounts to work as couriers.
This coordinated action underscores the government’s ongoing efforts to bolster immigration enforcement and safeguard UK borders. While officials maintain that genuine asylum seekers and migrant workers have the right to due process, there is growing concern that loopholes in verification procedures are being exploited, making it harder for employers and regulators to distinguish between legal and illegal workers.
Local authorities in the West Midlands have welcomed the move, citing the need to uphold employment standards and worker protections across the region. The raids also serve as a warning to employers who knowingly hire undocumented labour — a practice that could result in significant penalties, including unlimited fines and criminal prosecution.
As debates around migration, employment integrity and workforce regulation continue to dominate the national conversation, these latest developments demonstrate a tougher stance from central government. Yet critics argue that the wider systemic issues contributing to illegal working, such as long processing times for asylum applications and lack of oversight in the gig economy, require equal attention.
For many residents and legitimate UK workers across the West Midlands, the crackdown may offer reassurance that measures are being taken to preserve job opportunities and ensure workplace fairness. At the same time, it raises broader questions about how employment is regulated in a rapidly evolving labour market increasingly shaped by app-based services and short-term work.
As the landscape shifts, the actions taken in cities like Birmingham and Coventry may set a precedent for further enforcement activities across the UK — particularly in sectors where the risk of illegal employment remain
