Illegal working activity between 5 July 2024 and 28 June 2025
Updated 14 July 2025
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This note provides an overview of the ongoing effort to tackle the illegal employment and exploitation of vulnerable people in the UK, since early July 2024. It is intended to provide the public with clear and timely statistics in an area of high public interest.
The number of illegal working visits has increased by 48% and arrests have gone up by 51% between the election and 28 June 2025, compared to the same period 12 months prior. There were 6797 visits from 5 July 2023 to 28 June 2024 with 4734 arrests, while 5 July 2024 to 28 June 2025 saw 10031 visits with 7130 arrests.
From 5 July 2024 to 28 June 2025, 2105 civil penalties were issued, with employers facing fines of up to £60,000 per illegal worker.
Notes
The data and statistics contained within this notice are provisional and taken from live operational systems on 28 June 2025 and as a result, figures are subject to further revision and change.
Definitions and further data on enforcement visits and outcomes since 2019 were reported in Additional statistics relating to Illegal Migration (April 2024).
The Home Office will publish comprehensive statistics on immigration enforcement activity in the quarterly immigration system statistics Immigration system statistics quarterly release - GOV.UK
Illegal working visits (5 July to 28 June) by region:
| Region | 5/7/2023 to 28/6/2024 | 5/7/2024 to 28/6/2025 |
|---|---|---|
| East of England | 273 | 437 |
| London | 1660 | 2354 |
| Midlands | 1227 | 1590 |
| North East, Yorkshire & Humber | 657 | 773 |
| North West | 853 | 1278 |
| Northern Ireland | 119 | 126 |
| Rapid Response Team | 67 | 33 |
| Scotland | 321 | 513 |
| South Central | 283 | 559 |
| South East | 483 | 681 |
| Wales & West of England | 854 | 1687 |
| Grand Total | 6797 | 10031 |
Illegal working arrests (5 July to 28 June) by region:
| Region | 5/7/2023 to 28/6/2024 | 5/7/2024 to 28/6/2025 |
|---|---|---|
| East of England | 268 | 305 |
| London | 1195 | 1786 |
| Midlands | 930 | 1151 |
| North East, Yorkshire & Humber | 396 | 620 |
| North West | 536 | 681 |
| Northern Ireland | 107 | 157 |
| Rapid Response Team | 29 | 17 |
| Scotland | 206 | 337 |
| South Central | 188 | 431 |
| South East | 322 | 449 |
| Wales & West of England | 557 | 1196 |
| Grand Total | 4734 | 7130 |