Immigration Officials Arrest 18 at DPD Delivery Depot
The operation at the Wolverhampton facility is part of a broader crackdown on illegal working within the parcel delivery sector.
Eighteen individuals have been arrested on suspicion of immigration offenses following an immigration raid at a DPD delivery depot in Wolverhampton. The operation, which took place on Tuesday, September 29, targeted the DPD site at Dudley Port and is part of a wider government initiative to combat illegal working within the parcel delivery industry.
Immigration Enforcement officers conducted the raid, with footage appearing to show individuals in DPD uniforms being monitored by Home Office officials near delivery vans. The depot has received a Civil Penalty Referral Notice, which initiates further investigations into potential employer liability.
Under current immigration regulations, businesses can face substantial fines for employing individuals who do not have the right to work in the UK. The penalties can amount to up to £45,000 for each illegal worker found during a first offense, escalating to £60,000 per worker for repeat breaches. More serious cases may also lead to criminal prosecution.
A Home Office spokesperson emphasized the government's stance against illegal working, noting a significant increase in enforcement activities and arrests related to illegal employment. "We have strengthened right to work requirements to cover the parcel delivery sector, helping to ensure appropriate checks are carried out," the spokesperson stated.
DPD, however, has asserted that it maintains robust procedures for verifying employees' right to work. A company spokesperson confirmed that DPD has not yet been served with any penalty notice and stated the company's commitment to working with the Home Office on the matter. "At DPD we take our legal obligations extremely seriously and we have right to work checks in place for all of our people," the spokesperson said.
This incident follows a similar operation in June, where nine individuals were arrested during raids at two DPD depots in Basingstoke and Newbury in southern England. Those arrests were also made on suspicion of immigration offenses after right-to-work checks were conducted on over 100 individuals.