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Police make arrests as immigration offences come to light during roadside gig-economy worker checks
A 90 minute period of roadside checks by the Metropolitan Police Roads & Transport Team on fast-food gig economy delivery drivers in London, revealed a number of offences Including operating without insurance and immigration issues.
Delivery riders, working for firms such as Deliveroo, underwent the checks on Tuesday 18 May in Tooting South London.
48 bikes in total were checked, with 2 being seized for no insurance, 3 riders reported for offences and 2 arrests being made for immigration offences.
A spokesperson for the Metropolitan Police said: “Following numerous complaints about fast food delivery riders, we conducted an operation in Tooting this afternoon (18 May) with immigration enforcement.
”In 90 minutes we stopped 48 bikes. 2 were seized for no insurance. 3 riders reported for offences. 2 x arrests for immigration offences.”
The gig-economy as a whole has been under close scrutiny in the last couple of years with a number of court cases being filed against companies like Uber, who have been accused of exploiting riders and drivers.
Most recently in the UK, two former Uber drivers won a court case against the giants from Silicon Valley, where a Supreme Court judge ruled in favour of workers on the app being considered as employees, therefore being entitled to the benefits which come with the title, such as holiday and sick pay.
Other companies such as Deliveroo and Addison Lee have also faced similar cases.
