Hundreds of 'illegal immigrants' arrested as government cracks down on car washes, nail bars and supermarkets
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Hundreds of people have been arrested as the government cracks down on illegal working at car washes, nail bars and supermarkets in London. Nearly 1,000 enforcement visits have been carried out by the Home Office’s Immigration Enforcement team across the capital between July and November.
![[Minister for border security and asylum, Dame Angela Eagle MP (pictured) said: 'Dismantling criminal gangs and restoring order to our asylum system is a key part of our Plan for Change']](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2024/12/24/12/93455231-14224223-image-m-19_1735043445270.jpg)
In that time 996 visits resulted in 770 arrests and 462 premises receiving civil penalty notice referrals. Employers could face a fine of up to £60,000 per worker if found guilty. During one recent visit to a hotel in Kensington, six agency staff were arrested with five on suspicion of illegal working and one identified as having overstayed their visa.
![[Britons using cash-only nail bars, barbers or car washes are 'feeding the problem' of illegal migration and could be creating more victims of slavery, a top Home Office official has warned]](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2024/12/24/12/92670103-14224223-Britons_using_cash_only_nail_bars_barbers_or_car_washes_are_feed-a-17_1735043436126.jpg)
Minister for border security and asylum, Dame Angela Eagle MP said: 'Dismantling criminal gangs and restoring order to our asylum system is a key part of our Plan for Change. 'That’s exactly why we are clamping down on illegal working to prevent this abuse of our immigration system and safeguard those who are sold a false promise about their ability to live and work here.
![[Nearly 1,000 enforcement visits have been carried out by the Home Office’s Immigration Enforcement team across the capital between July and November. Pictured: Stock image of immigration enforcement officers]](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2024/12/24/13/93455741-14224223-image-a-24_1735045264362.jpg)
'Since the election, arrests and enforcement visits have deliberately increased, demonstrating that we will not tolerate any hiding place from law enforcement.'. The raids had a focus on targeting car washes, nail bars, supermarkets and construction sites which were suspected of hiring illegal workers and subjecting them to squalid conditions and illegal working hours at below minimum wage.
![[Director of enforcement, compliance and crime at the Home Office's Immigration Enforcement Eddy Montgomery (pictured) said the crackdown 'demonstrates our laser focus on holding employers to account and safeguarding those who are made to work in squalid conditions']](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2024/12/24/12/93455237-14224223-image-a-20_1735043461312.jpg)
