Home Secretary Yvette Cooper has unveiled plans to grant police powers to immigration officers while condemning the “disgraceful” exploitation of Britain’s immigration system by food delivery companies, speaking exclusively to GB News during her first enforcement raid as Home Secretary.
The proposals come as French authorities launched new tactics against Channel crossings, with officers filmed cutting holes in inflatable boats used by migrants attempting to reach British shores. The coordinated approach between UK and French authorities marks a significant escalation in efforts to control illegal immigration.
During an early morning raid at a Kent caravan park on Thursday—though no illegal workers were discovered on this occasion—Cooper outlined her determination to reform enforcement capabilities and crack down on businesses exploiting immigration loopholes.
Delivery Driver Exploitation “Disgraceful”
We’re intensifying the focus on delivery drivers because we know that there’s been shocking misuse and abuse,” Cooper told GB News during the operation. “It is just disgraceful.”
The Home Secretary expressed particular concern about gig economy companies circumventing immigration checks by classifying workers as self-employed contractors rather than employees, allowing them to avoid legal obligations to verify workers’ right to remain in the UK.
The rules need to be respected and enforced,” she stated firmly, signaling a major shift in immigration enforcement priorities.
Cooper revealed she is “determined to change the law, to bring through new laws that actually put new requirements on gig economy companies to do proper checks, to take responsibility, which they are not doing at the moment.
French Authorities Adopt Aggressive New Tactics
The Home Secretary’s comments coincided with reports of French police implementing more aggressive tactics to prevent Channel crossings. Officers have been filmed puncturing inflatable dinghies near Calais and other departure points, rendering vessels unusable before they can launch.
“We’re looking at a wide range of operational changes, working closely with France,” Cooper explained. The French interior minister is determined to change those rules. But we need those changes in place, obviously, as soon as possible.”
French authorities have also deployed tear gas and pepper spray against migrants attempting to board boats, marking a significant shift from previous approaches where officers often stood by as launches proceeded.
Legislative Changes Target Black Market Employment
Under proposed amendments to the Border Security, Asylum and Immigration Bill currently before Parliament, companies operating in the gig economy will face unprecedented scrutiny and penalties for employing illegal workers.
Businesses could face fines of up to £60,000 per illegal worker discovered, with repeat offenders potentially forced to close. Company directors found guilty of knowingly employing illegal workers could face five-year prison sentences and disqualification from running businesses.
These new laws build on significant efforts to stop organised immigration crime and protect the integrity of our borders,” a Home Office spokesperson stated.
Scale of Problem Revealed
Immigration officials discovered in April 2023 that two in every five food delivery drivers checked were working illegally in the UK, highlighting the scale of exploitation within the sector.
The Home Office has acknowledged uncertainty about the total number of illegal immigrants residing in the UK, with 2019 estimates from the Pew Research Center suggesting between 800,000 and 1.2 million people living in the country without legal status.
Cooper’s announcement forms part of a broader strategy to target sectors known for employing illegal workers, including beauty salons, car washes, and nail bars—businesses previously investigated by GB News for immigration violations.
Police Powers for Immigration Officers
The most significant proposal involves granting police-style powers to immigration enforcement officers, enabling them to conduct more effective raids and detain suspected illegal workers without requiring police assistance.
Currently, immigration officers must often wait for police support before taking enforcement action, creating delays that allow illegal workers to evade capture. The new powers would streamline operations and increase the effectiveness of workplace raids.
We want to end all dangerous small boat crossings,” Cooper declared, linking workplace enforcement to broader efforts to reduce incentives for illegal immigration.
Digital ID System Proposed
Cooper also revealed plans for a comprehensive digital identification system to track visa compliance and identify overstayers more effectively.
“We are particularly looking at how we have digital ID for everyone coming to the UK,” she told the Home Affairs Committee. “We want to have a digital service linked to e-visas and linked to our border management process to be able to determine whether an individual is in or out of the UK.”
The system would enable authorities to identify when visa holders have overstayed their permitted time and trigger automatic enforcement action.
Channel Crossing Crisis Continues
The enforcement crackdown comes amid record numbers of Channel crossings, with more than 35,000 migrants reaching UK waters in small boats since January 2025. Saturday saw the highest single-day total this year, with 1,194 people arriving in 18 vessels.
Defence Secretary John Healey described scenes of French police watching migrants launch boats as “pretty shocking,” acknowledging the challenge posed by French officers’ inability to intervene once boats reach shallow waters.
“They’re not doing it, but for the first time for years we’ve got the level of cooperation needed,” Healey stated, referring to new French commitments to change operational procedures.
Industry Response Expected
The proposed changes will require all companies, including those in the gig economy, to verify workers through the Home Office’s online database before allowing them to begin work. This represents a significant shift from current arrangements where self-employed contractors fall outside existing verification requirements.
The amendments are expected to face resistance from delivery platforms and other gig economy companies, which have built business models around flexible contractor arrangements.
Opposition Criticism
Shadow ministers have criticized Labour’s approach, with one Conservative MP stating: “Labour seems to think praying for bad weather is a good border security strategy. This is a weak Government, with no plan to end illegal immigrants crossing the channel.”
Critics argue that canceling the Rwanda deportation scheme before implementation has contributed to 2025 becoming “the worst year in history for illegal crossings.
Looking Ahead
Cooper’s multi-pronged approach combines enhanced domestic enforcement with international cooperation, representing the most comprehensive immigration enforcement reform in recent years.
As the Border Security, Asylum and Immigration Bill progresses through Parliament, businesses employing casual workers face a dramatically changed landscape where immigration compliance will become a critical operational concern.
The success of these measures will likely depend on effective implementation and continued cooperation with French authorities, who have finally agreed to adopt more aggressive intervention tactics after years of British pressure.
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Image credit:
Home Secretary Yvette Cooper visits Metropolitan Police Service in Lambeth, London, United Kingdom on 8 August 2024 – 5. Photo by Simon Dawson / No 10 Downing Street, via Wikimedia Commons, licensed under CC BY 2.0.
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