Nine people have been arrested for suspected illegal working at DPD bases in Basingstoke and Newbury.
Immigration Enforcement officers carried out early morning swoops at both sites on Thursday 11 June, in a bid to crack down on illegal working in the delivery sector.
Officers carried out right to work checks on over 100 people. Seven Indian nationals, one Ghanaian national and one Pakistani national were identified as immigration offenders. Eight of the nine arrested were at the Basingstoke site.
All have been placed on immigration bail, subject to strict conditions, while further inquiries take place. If they are found to have been working unlawfully, they will be removed from the UK.
Any employer found in breach of the law can receive a fine of up to £60,000 per worker.
The Home Office said the operation forms part of the Home Secretary’s reforms to the immigration system, to scale up removals of those with no right to be in the UK and remove the incentives drawing illegal migrants to Britain.
Since coming into power in July 2024, it said the Government has increased illegal working enforcement activity to the highest level in British history, with an 83% rise in arrests and 77% increase in raids across the UK.
South Central Immigration Enforcement Lead, Adam Duffin said:
“Many weeks of preparation and intelligence building has led to this result and work continues to ensure that where an employer has employed an individual illegally, the liable party receives the appropriate penalty.
“I want this to send a message to those firms who are attempting to flout the rules – we are cracking down on this and we will put a stop to it.”
Until now, companies hiring gig economy and zero-hours workers, including in the delivery sector, have not legally been required to check their right to work.
This is changing and the government is due to publish its response to the Extending the Right to Work checks to the gig economy consultation later this month.
This means companies hiring people in the gig economy will be legally required to carry out checks to confirm anyone working in their name is eligible to work in the UK.
Those who fail to do so will face hefty penalties including fines of up to £60,000 per worker, director disqualifications and potential prison sentences of up to five years.