UK Arrests Illegal Workers Rise 63% Amid £5M Operation Sterling Crackdown

The UK government has launched Operation Sterling, a £5 million initiative aimed at cracking down on unauthorized migrant workers in sectors such as takeaways, fast food delivery, beauty salons, and car washes. Between October 2024 and September 2025, Immigration Enforcement conducted over 11,000 raids across the UK, resulting in more than 8,000 arrests—a 63% increase from the previous year. Specific regions like Wales and Scotland saw significant rises in arrests, with Wales experiencing a 98% increase and Scotland nearly a 30% rise. New laws have expanded right-to-work checks to cover gig economy workers, closing previous loopholes and imposing severe penalties, including fines up to £60,000 per illegal worker and potential prison sentences for employers. The government also collaborates with delivery companies to cross-check data and identify illegal employment linked to asylum seekers. Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood emphasized that illegal working incentivizes irregular migration and vowed continued enforcement to remove unauthorized workers and penalize non-compliant businesses.