Illegal working and enforcement activity between 1 October and 31 October 2025
Updated 14 November 2025
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This publication is available at https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/returns-from-the-uk-and-illegal-working-activity-since-july-2024/illegal-working-and-enforcement-activity-between-1-october-and-31-october-2025
Under the government’s Plan for Change to restore order to the immigration system and toughen enforcement of the rules, Home Office Immigration Enforcement teams undertook a month long operation to target cash-based businesses which are commonly linked with illegal working, such as mini-marts, barbershops, vape shops, nail bars, and car washes.
Between 1 and 31 October 2025 Immigration Enforcement officers, together with wider law enforcement partners, conducted 1,737 illegal working visits to businesses operating in these sectors and which led to 693 arrests.
The operation was led by the National Crime Agency (NCA) and supported by police forces and partner organisations across the UK, with officers seizing over £10.7 million of suspected criminal proceeds and destroying over £2.7 million worth of illicit commodities.
Between 1 October 2024 and 30 September 2025 Immigration Enforcement have already increased illegal working visits by 51% and arrests on illegal working visits by 63% compared to the same period 12 months prior: Illegal working and enforcement activity to the end of September 2025 - GOV.UK
The data and statistics contained within this notice are provisional and were taken from live operational systems in November 2025 and as a result, figures are subject to further revision and change.