Crackdown on Deliveroo, JustEat and UberEats moped drivers sees 60 arrests for illegal working - and follow-up searches find two imitation guns, a machete and telescopic baton

Fast food delivery firms are being urged to carry out more stringent checks on their moped drivers after a crackdown led to scores of arrests and the discovery of imitation firearms.

Officials have launched renewed talks with Deliveroo, JustEat and UberEats after a week-long operation saw 60 moped riders held for illegal working.

Most of them have now been detained pending removal from the country.

Follow-up searches uncovered two imitation guns, a machete and a telescopic baton, a Home Office spokesman said. Telescopic, or ‘friction-lock’, batons can be flicked out to use as a cosh, and are banned under offensive weapons laws.

The operation also found evidence that legitimate moped riders were sharing delivery jobs with acquaintances - usually by the WhatsApp messaging service - and allowing them to carry out the work, the spokesman added.

Fast food delivery firms are being urged to carry out more stringent checks on their moped drivers after a crackdown led to scores of arrests and the discovery of imitation firearms

Fast food delivery firms are being urged to carry out more stringent checks on their moped drivers after a crackdown led to scores of arrests and the discovery of imitation firearms

Officials have launched renewed talks with Deliveroo, JustEat and UberEats after a week-long operation saw 60 moped riders held for illegal working

Officials have launched renewed talks with Deliveroo, JustEat and UberEats after a week-long operation saw 60 moped riders held for illegal working

It means completely unvetted couriers are able to deliver food to unsuspecting customers’ front doors.

‘We are in conversations with the delivery app companies to try to improve their engagement with the rules on carrying our right to work checks,’ the spokesman said.

The Court of Appeal ruled in 2021 that Deliveroo riders are self-employed, and not employees.

It means the delivery apps will not face fines of up to £20,000 per illegal worker which are levied against conventional employers.

Immigration officers stopped 151 moped delivery drivers in a series of operations across London and the South East last week - and found 60 were working illegally.

Follow-up searches uncovered two imitation guns, a machete and a telescopic baton, a Home Office spokesman said. [File image]

Follow-up searches uncovered two imitation guns, a machete and a telescopic baton, a Home Office spokesman said. [File image] 

The operation also found evidence that legitimate moped riders were sharing delivery jobs with acquaintances - usually by the WhatsApp messaging service - and allowing them to carry out the work

The operation also found evidence that legitimate moped riders were sharing delivery jobs with acquaintances - usually by the WhatsApp messaging service - and allowing them to carry out the work

The majority were Brazilian, the spokesman said. Indian and Algerian nationals were also held.

Of the total, 44 were detained pending removal from the UK. This means they may be illegal immigrants or have overstayed a visa.

The remaining 16 were released on immigration bail.

Searches of properties linked to the arrests uncovered the weapons and more than £4,500 in cash, which was seized under the Proceeds of Crime Act.

Home Secretary Suella Braverman said: ‘Illegal working damages our communities, cheats honest workers out of employment and defrauds the public purse.

Home Secretary Suella Braverman (pictured) said: ¿Illegal working damages our communities, cheats honest workers out of employment and defrauds the public purse'

Home Secretary Suella Braverman (pictured) said: ‘Illegal working damages our communities, cheats honest workers out of employment and defrauds the public purse' 

‘As the Prime Minister has set out, we are committed to going further and faster to prevent the abuse of our laws and borders.

‘The British public deserve a labour market that is fair and honest and must have confidence that goods and services they buy are from legitimate businesses.’

Operations took place across the capital and in Brighton, Medway and Maidstone in Kent and Norwich.

MailOnline has contacted Deliveroo, UberEats and JustEat for comment. 

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