Most UK immigration raids yield no arrests, official data reveals
An investigation has revealed that almost two-thirds of UK immigration enforcement raids resulted in no arrests, prompting criticism over warrantless operations across local businesses.
Almost two-thirds of UK immigration enforcement visits result in no arrests and nearly three-quarters are carried out without a judicial warrant, according to government figures obtained under freedom of information laws.
An investigation by The Guardian and the Bureau of Investigative Journalism revealed that enforcement teams conducted 23,538 raids and spot checks in 2025, averaging roughly 60 operations each day. However, 15,578 visits produced no arrests. The raids heavily targeted small businesses such as takeaways, barber shops, car washes and warehouses, alongside private residential properties.
The data also showed that nearly 89% of enforcement tip-offs originated from anonymous public reports rather than verified police intelligence. While critics argued that these warrantless searches harm innocent workers and legitimate independent businesses, the Home Office maintained that all operational intelligence undergoes rigorous examination before deployment.
Source: The Guardian Photo: rawpixel (CC0)