Transparency data

Illegal working activity between 5 July 2024 and 28 June 2025

Updated 5 July 2025

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