Labour to deport more than 60 migrant delivery drivers after Express investigation

A Home Office immigration crackdown on delivery riders has seen 60 people deported just days after the Express exposed an online network organising illegal courier work for migrants.

There were 171 arrests in the targeted action on the gig-economy by the government, including Bangladeshi and Indian riders in east London, and Indian delivery riders in Norwich.

Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood watched an operation in Streatham, south London as she ramped up efforts to tackle Britain's black market and deter people from coming to the UK illegally.

The action comes days after an undercover Express invesitgation found migrants were still able to earn cash as delivery riders by renting accounts from unsrupulous online sellers. Some of those featured in the expose bragged about fooling facial recognition security checks to earn hundreds of pounds a week.

Border security minister Alex Norris claimed the Home Office efforts were part of "the most most sweeping changes to illegal migration in modern times to reduce the incentives that draw illegal migrations here.

"These results should send a clear message, if you are working illegally in this country, you will be arrested and removed," he added.

Since July, the Home Office has been sharing details of asylum hotel locations with major platforms Deliveroo, Just Eat and Uber Eats in an effort to combat the brazen illegal working exposed by a seperate Express investigation in the summer.

Since then the Home Office said that Ministers had been working with the firms to address concerns of abuse in the sector and ramping up identity checks to tackle account-sharing.

On Tuesday new laws were introduced that will see employers who fail to carry out checks facing up to five years in prison, fines of £60,000 for each illegal worker they have employed, and having their business closed.

The measures which are part of the Border Security, Asylum and Immigration Act will also close a "loophole" for casual, temporary or subcontracted workers, forcing them to prove their legal status.