London businesses are being fined almost £1million a month for hiring illegal workers as Home Office raids are stepped up, figures have revealed.
Almost 40 firms in the capital were handed combined penalties totalling £2,780,000 in the last three months of 2024, Home Office data shows.
The latest raids by immigration officers on a central London shop revealed the premises being entirely run by people in the country illegally.
Staff members on shift at Strand News were found to have overstayed their visas when officers visited on March 6 and March 18.
One man, from India, had entered the country in 2009 on a student visa and told the Home Office he was being paid £45 a day to work.
Another, also from India, claimed he managed the shop and said his wages were £1,200 a month, paid in cash.
Allegedly illegal vapes containing up to 8,000 puffs were also seized. Vapes are capped at 600 puffs under UK laws.
In documents submitted to Westminster Council, the Home Office said: “Immigration Enforcement conducted two visits to Strand News in the space of 12 days, where illegal workers were found on both occasions.
“These individuals were identified as solely being responsible for running the premises and the sale of alcohol.
“Both individuals admitted to working at the premises, having been recruited directly by the business owner, who had not verified their immigration status or right to work.
“They also confirmed that they were paid in cash and did not pay taxes on their earnings. Both individuals were found to be residing and working in the UK illegally.
“This not only highlights the business owner’s failure to conduct even the most basic right-to-work checks, but also points to a sustained effort to employ undocumented workers.
“These individuals were entrusted with the running of the premises - often as the sole staff present.”
The business, on The Strand, was handed a £40,000 fine and now faces having its licence to sell alcohol revoked.
From July 5 last year - the day the new government came to power - until October 31, there were 3,188 enforcement visits — compared to 2,371 raids during the same period in 2023.
Arrests also jumped, from 1,836 to 2,299. Between July and September last year, fines totalling nearly £1.9 million were handed out by the Home Office to almost 50 London businesses.
During Prime Minister’s Questions on Wednesday, Sir Keir Starmer said the rollout of eVisas would help tackle illegal working.
He said: “Since we came to power we've ramped up enforcementraids on illegal working. Arrests have gone up by 50% and we're tightening the law on delivery drivers.
“Digital ID will help us tackle illegal working and we're rolling out the use of eVisas to have digital records of immigration status and checks to allow on the spot checks of anybody's right to work.”
