Three people have been arrested at an Evri location in Crawley as part of a wider Home Office operation targeting illegal working in the delivery sector, officials have confirmed. The action in West Sussex formed one leg of a series of visits this month that also included stops in south London and the Midlands.
Local arrests form part of national sweep
According to the Home Office, enforcement teams attended the Evri site in Crawley on 15 July. Officers arrested three individuals — a Gambian national, a Ghanaian national and a Pakistani national — described as overstayers. The department said those detained have been placed on immigration bail with strict conditions while inquiries continue, and the Government will seek to remove them from the UK as soon as practicable.
The Crawley visit followed earlier checks at other Evri sites. Officers attended premises in Redditch, Worcestershire, on 8 July, where one Pakistani national was arrested for overstaying. A day later in Croydon, south London, enforcement teams detained six people — three Brazilian nationals, two Pakistani nationals and one Indian national — for a range of immigration offences.
| Location | Date | Arrests | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Crawley, West Sussex | 15 July | 3 | All reported as overstayers |
| Croydon, London | 9 July | 6 | Various immigration offences |
| Redditch, Worcestershire | 8 July | 1 | Overstayer |
Potential penalties for employers
The Home Office reiterated that companies can face significant civil penalties if they are found to have employed people without the right to work and failed to make the required checks. The department cited fines of up to £60,000 per worker in such cases. The delivery sector often relies on subcontracting for recruitment, and officials said they are working with businesses to ensure compliance across supply chains.
“We are committed to working closely with companies to ensure they are compliant. However, we will never hesitate to take enforcement action to crack down on those who flout the law.”
That message came from Eddy Montgomery, the Home Office’s director of enforcement, compliance and crime, who also thanked officers carrying out daily operations nationwide.
Evri response and right-to-work checks
Evri said it is cooperating with the authorities and stressed its processes around eligibility to work. A spokesperson for the delivery firm said right-to-work verification is completed for all employees and that the company will continue to assist the Home Office with its inquiries.
“We take our employment responsibilities very seriously, and right-to-work checks are carried out for all employees. We remain committed to cooperating fully and constructively with the Home Office in relation to their enquiries.”
What this means for West Sussex
The action in Crawley brings the national crackdown to the doorstep of one of West Sussex’s key logistics hubs, where parcel firms support households and businesses across the county and the wider Gatwick area. While the Home Office did not provide further local details, the reminder is clear for employers and contractors alike: ensure robust right-to-work checks and keep auditable records. For workers, maintaining up-to-date immigration status and documentation is essential to avoid enforcement action and the disruption that follows.
- Employers risk fines of up to £60,000 per illegal worker where checks have not been done properly.
- Subcontracting is common in deliveries; lead firms remain under pressure to verify compliance within their labour supply.
- Those arrested have been placed on immigration bail pending further investigation.
As inquiries continue, residents should not notice any immediate change to parcel services locally, but the enforcement activity underscores how scrutiny of recruitment practices in the sector is intensifying. For West Sussex businesses using courier services or labour providers, now is a sensible time to revisit pre-employment verification steps and ensure they align with Government guidance.
