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Immigration Enforcement

Asked by Dr Scott ArthurLabourHome OfficeTabled Answered 7 September 2026UIN 24535

The question

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what action has been taken by Immigration Enforcement in Edinburgh since 2024 and how successful this action has been.

Answered by Home Office

Data related specifically to Edinburgh is not currently available from published statistics, and the relevant data could only be collated and verified for the purpose of answering this question at disproportionate cost.

Our published national data on enforcement activity is available at the following link Immigration system statistics, year ending June 2026 - GOV.UK

Details of illegal working activity by region, including Scotland, is available at the following link: Illegal working and enforcement data to the end of December 2025: by region - GOV.UK

All aspects of enforcement activity conducted by the Edinburgh Immigration Compliance and Enforcement Team have risen significantly year on year. This includes increases in illegal working operations and arrests, as well as more residential and compliance visits undertaken with law enforcement partners to tackle abuse of the immigration system. While Edinburgh-specific outcomes are not separately available from published statistics, the sustained increase in operational activity demonstrates the team’s success in strengthening enforcement activity and disrupting non-compliance.

Immigration Enforcement regularly conducts joint operations in Edinburgh with the Police, Edinburgh City Council Trading Standards Officers and Licensing Officers and other agencies addressing a range of issues including unlicensed taxis, houses of multiple occupation and the sale of illicit goods.

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