Hundreds of people were arrested in Wales last year as part of a UK-wide crackdown on illegal working, with enforcement officers targeting businesses including car washes, nail bars, barber shops, restaurants and construction sites.
Record levels of enforcement activity were recorded in 2025, as authorities sought to curb illegal immigration and the black economy. Official figures show that 1,320 raids were carried out across Wales during the year, resulting in 649 arrests, both higher than in the previous year.
The operations formed part of a broader national strategy led by the Home Office to disrupt illegal employment practices. The intensified enforcement coincided with sweeping reforms announced by Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood, who pledged tougher action against illegal working.
“There is no place for illegal working in our communities,” Mahmood said. “That is why we have surged enforcement activity to the highest level in British history, so illegal migrants in the black economy have nowhere to hide.”
Authorities have also raised concerns about potential entry routes into Wales. In the first 10 months of 2025, 177 people were refused entry at Holyhead Port amid claims it was being used as a backdoor route for illegal immigration.
Richard Johnson, Immigration Enforcement lead for Wales and the west of England, told WalesOnline that his team arrested 1,057 illegal workers in the financial year ending April 2025, representing a 114 percent increase compared with the previous year.
“In the last financial year, we arrested more illegal workers than any immigration enforcement team in the country,” Johnson said. “Illegal working is against the law and will not be tolerated in our communities.”
Source: Daily Post (UK)
Bd-pratidin English/ Jisan
