73% Surge in Arrests of UK Illegals

UK immigration enforcement teams made over 600 arrests last month, a 73% increase on the same period a year ago, as part of the new Labour government's plan to tackle undocumented migration and people smuggling gangs, officials said.

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The 609 arrests, compared with 352 last January, were made during visits to over 800 premises including nail bars, restaurants, car washes and convenience stores.

On taking office last year, Labour Prime Minister Keir Starmer scrapped his Conservative predecessor Rishi Sunak's plan to deter undocumented migration to the UK by deporting new arrivals to Rwanda.

Instead, he pledged to "smash the gangs" to bring the numbers down.