14 illegal workers face removal from the UK after being arrested in Melksham.
The Home Office says 16 Romanian nationals taken into custody on Friday (26 September) were travelling to collect payment for working at a solar farm in Scotland.
The group were intercepted by Wiltshire Police officers near the BP garage in Beanacre Road – after initially responding to a disorder in the area.
All of the suspects had breached visitor visa conditions. 14 of them have been detained by the Home Office, and face removal from the UK imminently.
The remaining two were released, and are under strict reporting conditions.
A Home Office spokesperson said: “Tackling illegal working forms a critical part of this government’s efforts to undermine the people smuggler business model, in which people are sold the false promise of a life and ability to work in the UK in exchange for thousands of pounds to make illegal journeys to the UK.
“The arrests come as the Prime Minister last week announced the introduction of digital ID cards, to make it harder to work illegally in this country and ensuring our borders become more secure.
“The change will stop those with no right to be here from being able to find work, curbing their prospect of earning money, one of the key “pull factors” for people who come to the UK illegally.”
Alex Norris, Minister for Border Security and Asylum, said: “Illegal working plays into the hands of smugglers, undercuts local businesses and can lead to appalling exploitation.
“Whether it is in our cities or rural areas, we will root it out and ensure those breaking the rules face the consequences.
“Action is up 50% nationwide since taking office, but we won’t stop there.
“As part of our Plan for Change, we will go further by introducing new digital ID cards and tightening our laws with our Borders Bill to clamp down on rogue employers.”
A spokesperson added that illegal working arrests and operations have soared by 50% under the Labour govenment, and the Border Security Bill is being brought forward to help stop illegal working in our modern labour market across business sectors.
Adding: “Ending the abuse of flexible working arrangements, the legislation will see right to work checks extended to cover gig economy, casual and temporary workers.
“This also sits alongside the government’s success in returning the first illegal migrants under the landmark UK-France returns deal last week and returning over 35,000 people since coming into power.
“And in August, it was announced that frontline Immigration Enforcement teams will receive a £5 million funding boost to ramp up illegal working enforcement activity even further.”
