More than 200 people suspected of working illegally have been arrested in Northern Ireland over the past year, as the Home Office intensifies its efforts to clamp down on illegal employment across the UK. According to figures released by the Home Office and reported by both BBC and News Letter, 214 arrests were made in Northern Ireland between October 2024 and September 2025. This staggering number marks a 168% increase from the previous year, when just 80 arrests were recorded.
The surge in arrests is part of what the Home Office has described as "the largest crackdown on illegal workers since records began." Nationwide, more than 8,000 illegal migrants were detained during the same 12-month period following 11,000 enforcement raids. That represents a 63% increase in arrests and a 51% rise in visits compared to the previous year, highlighting a significant escalation in enforcement efforts.
The government’s Operation Sterling, a £5 million initiative, has targeted sectors known to be reliant on casual or temporary labor. Among the industries under scrutiny are fast food takeaways, beauty salons, car washes, and gig economy roles such as delivery drivers. The Home Office states that these sectors are particularly vulnerable to illegal working, with higher levels of undocumented migrants seeking employment.
In Northern Ireland specifically, Immigration Enforcement conducted 168 raids over the past year, up from 109 the previous year—a 54% jump. These raids resulted not only in arrests but also in the issuance of civil penalty referral notices to three businesses: Fish Factory in Kilkeel, USA Nails in Larne, and Tasty Macs in Carnlough. If found liable, these businesses face hefty fines for employing individuals without the legal right to work in the UK.
The details of these enforcement actions shed light on the scale and diversity of illegal working in the region. For instance, on August 8, 2025, officers visited Fish Factory in Kilkeel, County Down, resulting in the arrest of three Bulgarian and Polish nationals. Later, on October 11, 2025, USA Nails in Larne saw three Vietnamese nationals arrested, while the same day, Tasty Macs in Carnlough was the site of two arrests of Indian nationals. All three businesses were subsequently served with civil penalty referral notices, a step that could lead to significant financial penalties if breaches of immigration law are confirmed.
Across the UK, the story is much the same—if not more dramatic. The Home Office reports that more than 8,000 illegal migrants were arrested following 11,000 raids from October 2024 to September 2025. Over 1,050 foreign nationals encountered during these operations have already been removed from the country. The government has pointed to these figures as evidence of its determination to "shrink the black economy and penalise rogue employers who ignore immigration rules," as cited by BBC.
Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood has taken a particularly hard line on the issue, vowing to do "whatever it takes" to secure the country's borders. In a statement reported by both BBC and News Letter, Mahmood declared, "Illegal working creates an incentive for people attempting to arrive in this country illegally. No more. Those found to be illegally working in beauty salons, car washes and as delivery drivers will be arrested, detained and removed from this country. I will do whatever it takes to secure Britain's borders."
The government’s approach has not been limited to traditional sectors. Recognizing the rise of the gig economy, officials have expanded right-to-work checks into areas where casual employment is common and oversight is often lacking. This includes roles in food delivery and ride-hailing services, where the flexible nature of work can make it easier for undocumented migrants to find employment. According to the Home Office, the expansion of these checks is intended to "target businesses who often rely on casual or temporary workers," and to "penalise rogue employers who ignore immigration rules."
The crackdown has drawn attention to the challenges of policing illegal employment in a modern, service-oriented economy. Sectors like fast food, beauty, and car washes have long been identified as at-risk industries—places where cash-in-hand work is common and labor shortages can tempt employers to take risks with hiring. The government’s £5 million investment in enforcement is designed to address these vulnerabilities head-on.
But the impact of these raids extends beyond the individuals arrested and the businesses penalized. For many, the sudden presence of immigration officers at local establishments can be a jarring reminder of the complexities of migration and labor in the UK. While the government frames the crackdown as a matter of national security and economic fairness, critics often point to the human cost—families separated, livelihoods disrupted, and communities unsettled.
Still, the Home Office maintains that robust enforcement is necessary to deter illegal migration and protect the integrity of the UK’s labor market. "Illegal working creates an incentive for people attempting to arrive in this country illegally," Mahmood reiterated. "No more." The message is clear: the government intends to pursue a zero-tolerance approach to illegal employment, with a particular focus on those sectors most vulnerable to exploitation.
For employers, the risks are mounting. The issuance of civil penalty referral notices to businesses in Kilkeel, Larne, and Carnlough serves as a stark warning that authorities are watching—and that penalties for non-compliance can be severe. The Home Office’s ongoing campaign to "shrink the black economy" is as much about changing employer behavior as it is about catching undocumented workers.
The figures from the past year suggest that these efforts are having a measurable effect. A 168% increase in arrests in Northern Ireland, coupled with record-high enforcement activity across the UK, signals a new era in immigration enforcement. Whether this approach will yield lasting results remains to be seen, but for now, the message from the Home Office could not be more direct.
As the government continues its crackdown, the debate over the best way to balance border security, economic needs, and humanitarian concerns is likely to intensify. For now, though, the numbers tell a story of unprecedented action—and a warning to those who would flout the country’s immigration laws.
