Landmark Case Results in Minimal Financial Penalty
Abdullah Merez, 23, has become the first migrant to be convicted of illegally working for Deliveroo, receiving what amounts to a slap on the wrist – a fine equivalent to just two hours of delivery driver wages.
Court Shows Leniency Despite Immigration Violation
The 23-year-old admitted to illicitly delivering food for the company after being caught in Woking, Surrey, on May 2 this year. However, Justices of the Peace granted him a conditional discharge, taking into account his debt situation and clean criminal record.
Merez was ordered to pay a victim surcharge of £26 – roughly two hours’ worth of pay for a Deliveroo driver – and faces a court return if payment isn’t received by September 2.
Immigration Status Remains Unclear
The case has raised questions as authorities have not disclosed whether Merez was in Britain illegally or held a visa prohibiting paid work, such as tourist or volunteer status.
Home Office Crackdown Yields First Conviction
This conviction marks the first success following a major Home Office crackdown that saw nearly 300 asylum seekers arrested for working illegally with delivery firms last month.
Nationwide Operation Targets Illegal Working Hotspots
The intensive operation, dubbed a ‘nationwide intensification week,’ ran from July 20-27 and yielded significant results:
- 1,780 people stopped and questioned
- Around 280 arrested across locations including Hillingdon, Dumfries, and Birmingham
- 89 detained pending removal from the country
- 53 having asylum support reviewed, potentially leading to suspension or withdrawal
Businesses Face Penalties Too
The crackdown extended beyond individual workers, with 51 businesses including car washes and restaurants receiving penalty notices. These establishments could face hefty fines if found guilty of hiring people without proper work authorization.
Delivery Giants Pledge Enhanced Security Measures
Major platforms Deliveroo, Uber Eats, and Just Eat have committed to ramping up facial verification and fraud checks in the coming months to prevent unauthorized individuals from working as riders.
More Cases in Pipeline
While Merez represents the first migrant to reach court in six months on delivery driver illegal working charges, at least three others have been charged but failed to appear for sentencing.
Legal Framework for Asylum Seekers
Current UK law typically bars asylum seekers from working while their claims are processed, though permission can be sought after waiting a full year.
Government Officials Defend Crackdown
Border Security Minister Dame Angela Eagle emphasized the security implications: “Illegal working undermines our border security and we’re cracking down hard on it. That’s why we have intensified our enforcement activity right across the UK.”
Home Office Enforcement Director Eddy Montgomery added that officers are working “around the clock” against “those who think they can get away with working illegally.”
£5 Million Funding Boost for Enforcement
Immigration enforcement teams will receive £5 million from the £100 million border security funding package, aimed at increasing officer visits to suspected activity areas over the coming months.
Information Sharing Initiative Launched
The government recently announced plans to share asylum hotel locations with food delivery firms to help identify and disrupt illegal working hotspots.
Opposition Calls for Stricter Measures
Shadow Home Secretary Chris Philp advocated for stripping asylum seekers of their status and deporting those caught working illegally. He claimed credit for exposing the issue, stating “this story only happened” because he “exposed what Labour refused to see.”
Political Investigation Sparks Action
Philp’s visit to a central London asylum hotel, where he filmed bicycles with delivery boxes for major platforms parked outside, directly led to the Home Office summoning all three delivery companies for discussions.
Tech Solutions Emerge from Crisis Talks
The high-level meetings resulted in commitments to increase facial recognition systems on rider apps, similar to banking security measures used to confirm user identity.
Data Access Dispute Continues
Despite assurances of confidentiality, Deliveroo was reportedly refused access to hotel location data, prompting criticism from Conservative politicians.
Shadow Home Office Minister Katie Lam condemned the situation: “The fact that the Home Office is refusing to help them just shows how topsy-turvy this country’s approach to migration has become. Crossing the Channel illegally is a crime. Working here illegally is a crime.”
