Politics & Council · Swindon
Swindon Borough Council calls for tougher crackdown on illegal working
By Swindon Now Editorial Team · Published
Councillors have unanimously backed a motion urging for stricter enforcement against illegal working in the local gig economy and delivery sector.
Swindon Borough Council has voted to formally call for a significant increase in enforcement against illegal working, following concerns regarding the growth of the gig economy and delivery sectors within the town. The motion, which received unanimous cross-party support during the council meeting on Thursday, 22 October, seeks to ensure that both local businesses and workers are protected from the risks associated with non-compliant employment practices.
The move comes as new national legislation, the Border Security, Asylum and Immigration Act, came into effect on 1 October. These regulations have extended the scope of right-to-work checks to include delivery riders, warehouse staff, and other casual workers. Under the updated rules, businesses that fail to verify the legal status of their staff face civil penalties of up to £60,000 per illegal worker. In the most severe cases, non-compliant firms face the risk of closure, director disqualification, and potential prison sentences of up to five years.
Local enforcement history
Swindon has already been subject to various enforcement operations targeting illegal employment. In December 2025, immigration officers and Wiltshire Police conducted a site-wide check at Panattoni Park, resulting in 30 arrests for immigration-related offences. Most of the individuals detained were subsequently processed for removal from the UK.
Furthermore, records from 2025 indicate that nine Swindon businesses were issued with financial penalties totalling over £400,000 for employing workers without the legal right to work in the UK. Targeted operations have also extended to transport, with police seizing illegal e-bikes and e-scooters and taking several vehicles off the road in September last year.
Council's next steps
Following the motion's approval, the council is set to write to the Home Secretary to request more robust enforcement and clearer guidance on how local authorities can better identify and address offenders. Local MPs will also be tasked with raising the matter in Parliament, with a focus on ensuring that delivery platforms are strictly adhering to their legal obligations.
Councillor Gordon Slade, who introduced the motion, emphasised that the objective is to protect responsible businesses from being unfairly undercut by competitors who operate outside the law. Labour leader Jim Robbins and Conservative councillor Daniel Adams both spoke in favour of the proposal, highlighting that ensuring legal compliance in delivery and gig work is a matter of both fair competition and community safety.
Government data indicates a significant increase in enforcement activity, with 1,946 arrests made across the UK in the warehousing, distribution, and delivery sector between July 2024 and June 2026. This represents a rise of 325 per cent compared to the preceding two-year period, reflecting a broader national trend towards stricter workplace compliance oversight.
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