The rising visibility of masked delivery riders in the UK, many of whom remain unidentified and largely foreign-speaking, has brought to light significant concerns over the safety and regulation of the food delivery industry. Amidst the growing trend of ordering takeaways, particularly in urban locales, customers are increasingly interacting with delivery drivers whose backgrounds remain murky. One resident’s personal revelation underscores the uncertainty: these riders often arrive wearing helmets that conceal their faces, speak limited English, and sometimes enter homes with little scrutiny, despite customers providing their names and addresses. This obscurity has stoked fears, especially given reports that many of these individuals are newly arrived migrants, some potentially working illegally.

A recent newspaper investigation highlighted that hundreds of migrants who had crossed the Channel in small boats were swiftly finding work as delivery drivers, living in government-funded asylum hotels while earning incomes on the side. The presence of branded bikes and bags outside these accommodations has been noted as a ‘pull factor’ attracting more migrants. The Shadow Home Secretary Chris Philp has accused major delivery companies of inadvertently ‘fuelling’ the border crisis by not enforcing strict employment and identity checks. The precarious situation has even led to calls for a boycott of takeaway giants until stricter controls are implemented, emphasising risks to British citizens from what some describe as unvetted individuals entering people’s homes.

In a candid account, a widow recounts experiences with these delivery riders who have diverse national origins — including India, Bolivia, Afghanistan, and Iran — reflecting a wide migrant demographic. Some riders admitted to being in the UK solely to earn money, while troubling encounters revealed the potential for abuse and intimidation, such as one individual who sent a threatening image after delivering food. She noted that many riders also navigate the city at high speeds on electric scooters, often ignoring traffic rules and displaying a disregard for safety that goes unchecked by law enforcement.

Official statistics support these personal observations. Government figures from April 2023 reveal that 42% of delivery riders stopped during Home Office probes were working illegally. The crackdown operations during that period led to 60 arrests across London and the south, uncovering offences such as possession of false documents and illegal working. The majority of those arrested were from Brazil, with notable numbers also from India and Algeria. Weapons and cash suspected to be related to criminal activities were also seized. These enforcement actions have increased considerably compared to previous years, signaling a more robust governmental effort to combat illegal labour in the sector.

Further, the government has introduced stringent new legislation to clamp down on illegal working within the gig economy, imposing hefty fines and potential prison sentences on companies failing to verify workers’ rights to work in the UK. The new regulations target sectors like food delivery, where rogue operators have exploited weak oversight. In response, major food delivery firms Deliveroo, Just Eat, and Uber Eats have agreed to enhance security checks on their platforms, particularly for substitute riders, to prevent abuse by illegal workers. Deliveroo, for example, has already implemented a substitute registration system that includes right-to-work verification as part of broader government-endorsed measures.

Despite these efforts, enforcement challenges remain. Many delivery riders operate electric scooters unlicensed or only provisionally licensed with minimal checks, some capable of speeds up to 50mph, contributing to traffic hazards and accidents. The riders congregate in hotspots around affluent neighbourhoods, making numerous deliveries daily, frequently ignoring traffic laws. Although some riders freely admit to having entered the country illegally, enforcement presence on the streets appears minimal, allowing these activities to continue largely unchecked. Meanwhile, some asylum seekers residing in government hotels combine state support with earnings from delivery work, effectively living rent-free and earning substantial income at public expense—a situation critics describe as a serious strain on public resources.

This multifaceted problem reflects deeper issues around immigration control, labour exploitation, and public safety—challenges that authorities and delivery companies alike are struggling to tackle effectively. While some migrants aspire to rebuild their lives legitimately, the lax enforcement and exploitation of the delivery industry’s flexible labour system risk creating a backdoor for illegal workers, undermining both immigration policy and community safety. The current landscape demands urgent, coordinated action to ensure that food delivery services do not become conduits for unchecked illegal employment while protecting customers from potential risks posed by unscreened individuals entering their homes.

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Source: Noah Wire Services