UK – Hundreds arrested in New Year illegal worker blitz

Hundreds of migrants have been arrested since the start of this year as part of a UK-wide crackdown on illegal working, the government has said. Enforcement teams raided 828 premises including nail bars, car washes, and restaurants and made 609 arrests – a 73% increase from January 2024 and the highest figure for any January on record. Officials say many migrants are drawn in by false promises about their ability to live and work in the UK, which leads them to “risk their lives by crossing the Channel”.