18 arrested in immigration raid on DPD depot in Wolverhampton

Eighteen workers were detained at a DPD delivery depot in Wolverhampton on suspicion of immigration offences. Businesses employing illegal workers face fines of up to £60,000 per worker.

Eighteen detained at Wolverhampton DPD depot in immigration crackdown

Eighteen workers were arrested at a DPD parcel delivery depot in Dudley Port, Wolverhampton, last Tuesday (29 September), in an immigration enforcement operation targeting the delivery sector. According to Daily Express, the staff were detained on suspicion of immigration offences while officers from the Home Office conducted checks at the site.

Footage widely shared on social media appeared to show uniformed workers seated beside their vans as Home Office officials moved around them. Following the raid, the business was issued a Civil Penalty Referral Notice, triggering further investigations to determine whether it holds any liability.

Under current rules, companies found to have employed illegal workers without carrying out the required right-to-work checks face significant financial penalties. Fines start at £45,000 per worker for a first breach and rise to £60,000 for repeat offending. In the most serious cases, criminal prosecution is also possible.

The Home Office said in a statement: "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. We have strengthened right to work requirements to cover the parcel delivery sector, helping to ensure appropriate checks are carried out."

DPD has disputed the characterisation of events. A spokesperson said the company takes its legal obligations "extremely seriously" and that right-to-work checks are in place for all staff. "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," the statement read. "We can also confirm DPD has not been served with a Penalty Notice."

The Wolverhampton operation is not the first of its kind directed at DPD. In June, Immigration Enforcement officers attended two DPD depots in the south of England — in Basingstoke, Hampshire, and Newbury, Berkshire — on 11 June. Right-to-work checks were carried out on more than 100 people across the two sites, resulting in nine arrests. Seven Indian nationals, one Ghanaian national, and one Pakistani national were detained on suspicion of immigration offences. All nine were placed on immigration bail with conditions while further inquiries continued.

Source: Daily Express