Eighteen illegal delivery workers arrested after immigration raid at DPD depot

Eighteen workers have been arrested following an immigration raid at a DPD depot in the Midlands as part of a crackdown on illegal working in the parcel delivery industry.

Home Office officials carried out the operation at the company's site in Dudley Port, Wolverhampton, on Tuesday this week.

The collective of workers were detained on suspicion of immigration offences.

Meanwhile, the business was issued with a Civil Penalty Referral Notice, triggering further investigations into whether it may have breached its legal obligations on right to work.

If investigators establish that DPD employed illegal workers and failed to carry out the required pre-employment checks, the company could face fines of £45,000 for each worker.

That figure can rise to £60,000 per worker for repeat offences, while the most serious cases could result in prosecution.

A Home Office spokesman said: “We will not stand for illegal working.

"Since coming into office, immigration enforcement activity has risen to its highest level on record under this government, with illegal working arrests up by 122 per cent.

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“We have strengthened right to work requirements to cover the parcel delivery sector, helping to ensure appropriate checks are carried out.

"Businesses failing to meet their obligations may face fines of up to £60,000 per illegal worker and, in the most serious cases, criminal prosecution.”

Footage circulated on social media appeared to show workers wearing DPD uniforms sitting beside their vans while listening to Home Office officials during the operation.

DPD said it takes its responsibilities regarding the employment of workers seriously, and insisted that right to work checks are in place.

In a statement, the company said: "At DPD we take our legal obligations extremely seriously and we have right to work checks in place for all of our people.

"In addition, we have carried out a review of these procedures ahead of the new legislation that came into force recently, and we will continue to support and work closely with the Home Office on this issue.

"We can also confirm DPD has not been served with a Penalty Notice."

The investigation will determine whether any immigration breaches occurred, and whether the company has any liability arising from the arrests.