UK Immigration Enforcement arrested 4,756 people suspected of working illegally in the United Kingdom during the first six months of 2026, according to figures released by the Home Office.

The figure represents a 20 per cent increase compared with the same period in 2025, as the British government intensifies its crackdown on illegal employment.

Immigration Enforcement officers also carried out 7,270 raids on businesses between January and June, representing a 31 per cent increase year-on-year.

The Home Office described the figures as the most successful six-month period recorded in the history of British immigration enforcement.

The increased enforcement comes as the UK government steps up efforts to prevent employers from hiring workers without the required immigration status or permission to work.

The government also warned that employers in the gig economy, including those employing delivery riders illegally, could face fines of up to £60,000 per illegal worker or imprisonment for up to five years from October 1.

The latest figures highlight the UK's increasingly strict approach to illegal working as authorities seek to enforce immigration rules and hold employers accountable for breaches.