WARRINGTON North MP Charlotte Nichols has welcomed the government’s tough measures to tackle illegal working, which have seen a record 1,771 illegal immigration raids in the North West in 2025 alone – more than double the number of raids in 2019.
Under the Labour government, illegal working arrests have seen an 83% rise to the highest level in British history, as Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood works tirelessly to root out rogue employers breaking immigration laws.
The news comes in addition to the government’s work to remove 50,000 illegal migrants, a 23% increase from the last Conservative government.
Latest figures reveal the number of raids has soared by 77% in the UK since the Labour government came into power, leading to an 83% rise in arrests (July 2024 to end of December 2025).
Over 17,400 raids were made to dodgy businesses – such as nail bars, car washes, barbers and takeaway shops – targeting those attempting to undercut honest workers and hide in plain sight.
The major uplift, which led to more than 12,300 arrests, was made possible by Labour’s £5m funding boost last year for Immigration Enforcement, to target and pursue illegal working criminality.
Ms. Nichols said: “For years, the Tories failed to act against rogue employers and illegal working, leaving small businesses and hardworking people in Warrington to pick up the pieces. They underfunded enforcement and let wages be undercut by those breaking the law.
“It’s welcome that Labour is finally getting a grip on this problem – taking tough action, supporting honest businesses, and restoring order to our communities.”
Labour’s Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood said: ”There is no place for illegal working in our communities.
“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.
“I will stop at nothing to restore order and control to our borders.”
The recent drive has seen illegal working activity surge in every region of the UK, with London, the West Midlands and the South West leading the way for results in 2025.
In the North West, illegal working raids have increased by 97 per cent since 2023, and arrests by 67 per cent.
The new figures come as Immigration Enforcement officers across the UK are now equipped with body-worn video technology. Following the start of the launch in September last year, all teams are now benefitting from this capability, which will help bolster arrests and prosecutions further.
This work combined forms part of the Labour government’s laser focus to secure Britain’s borders and end the false promise of work used to sell spaces on dangerous small boats.
