A pre-Christmas enforcement operation at a festive market in Surrey has resulted in the arrest of eleven individuals suspected of working in the UK illegally.
Market Raid and Residential Arrests
The operation, which took place on Thursday, November 11, was a joint effort involving the Home Office's Immigration Enforcement team, Surrey Police, and the South East Regional Organised Crime Unit. Acting on specific intelligence, officers targeted the busy Kempton Park Christmas market in Sunbury-on-Thames.
Nine men, of Indian, Iraqi, and Chinese nationality, were detained at the market site. Video footage from the scene showed officers moving through the crowds to apprehend individuals. In a coordinated action, a further two men of Indian nationality were arrested at a nearby residential address.
All those arrested were searched and photographed by officials. Five of the individuals now face immediate deportation proceedings after being detained. The remaining six have been released on immigration bail and are required to report regularly to the Home Office.
Government Crackdown on Illegal Employment
The raid forms part of a significant nationwide drive to tackle illegal working, which the government states undermines legal employment and immigration rules. Official figures reveal a striking 63 per cent increase in illegal working arrests this year.
Minister for Border Security and Asylum, Alex Norris, commented: "Illegal working undercuts honest workers and undermines our immigration rules. We won't stand for it. That's why we are ripping away this pull factor through record levels of enforcement action right across Britain."
Home Office Immigration Enforcement Inspector Sam Malhotra added: "I hope this sends a clear message that there is no hiding place from the immigration rules. We are working around the clock to identify this criminality... This activity is ramping up right across the UK with enforcement levels at their highest rate in British history."
Broader Enforcement Context and Legal Reforms
This incident is not isolated. Latest statistics show that between October 2024 and September 2025, more than 8,000 illegal migrants were arrested following 11,000 raids. Earlier this month, 60 delivery riders were detained for removal after being found working illegally across locations including Solihull, Newham, and Norwich.
The government is concurrently implementing stricter legal measures. The new Border Security, Asylum and Immigration Act recently became law, closing a 'loophole' that previously exempted some casual or subcontracted workers from right-to-work checks. Employers now risk up to five years in prison, fines of £60,000 per illegal worker, and business closure for non-compliance.
Furthermore, a consultation is underway, launched by Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood, on plans to force food delivery apps to conduct stringent checks on their riders' right to work. Spelthorne Borough Commander Inspector Matt Walton stated that while protecting exploited individuals is a priority, authorities will "join with partners to take enforcement action" against those deliberately working outside the law.
