Immigration Checks & Changes
Between July 2024 and May 2025, UK immigration enforcement teams carried out 9,000 raids, 48 per cent more than the year before. These raids resulted in 6,410 arrests, an increase of 51 per cent from the previous year. In August, the Home Office committed a £5m funding boost for immigration enforcement teams to “ramp up illegal working intensification activity even further”. The Labour government has clearly shown that its term will see four years of significant scrutiny on immigration compliance. All organisations must comply with UK legislation on preventing illegal working. The consequences of non-compliance can include civil penalties, and in extreme cases unlimited fines or even jail time. Organisations that hold sponsor licences to employ migrant workers have even more to consider, because they also need to fulfil their numerous duties as sponsors. So, what should you do to ensure your business remains compliant? Review your right to work check processes Correctly conducted right to work checks will provide your business with a statutory excuse against civil penalties if someone is found to be working illegally. Consequently, it is crucial to understand the Home Office’s policies and make sure checks are conducted in an appropriate timeframe and an appropriate
