Lewisham halts cooperation with UK immigration raids

Lewisham Council has formally agreed to stop assisting Home Office immigration raids wherever legally possible, making it the first local authority in the UK to take such a step. The Green-led administration voted to review its data-sharing agreements and pledged to withhold public money and council resources from immigration enforcement.

The move establishes a direct conflict with the national government's strategy for the labour market. Home Office figures show 2,715 raids across London in 2025, resulting in 2,172 arrests, up from 2,008 raids the previous year. A Home Office spokesperson said that since coming into power, Labour has increased enforcement to "the highest level in British history," delivering an 83% rise in illegal working arrests and a 77% rise in raids between 1 July 2024 and 31 December 2025.

Lewisham has become a particular focus for these operations. Data obtained under freedom of information by the grassroots group Lewisham Anti-Raids indicates 177 raids occurred in the SE13 postcode area alone in 2025. Cllr Hau-Yu Tam, who proposed the motion, argued that high-profile raids at a Catford nail bar and a Brockley car wash in January 2026 yielded minimal results despite heavy resources.

"Despite the resources, despite the spectacle, only two people were arrested and both [were] later released on bail," Tam said. "According to local accounts, Chinese women workers were filmed, handcuffed and intimidated by a large officer team. They were not arrested, but they were intimidated." She called the operations "political theatre" and a "theatre of cruelty," adding: "And if the purpose of race is simply enforcement ... there's no evidence these operations are making our community safer. Our immigration system is broken."

The Home Office defended its approach, stating that enforcement visits are intelligence-led. A spokesperson said the department makes "no apology" for working with local authorities to share information and "fighting criminals who fuel immigration crime."

The council's decision signals growing local resistance to aggressive enforcement tactics in sectors that rely on migrant labour. Mayor Liam Shrivastava said the council was defending migrant workers against a "hostile environment," arguing that raids spread fear and make it harder for victims of modern slavery to seek protection.

Lewisham now plans to coordinate with Lambeth and other Green-led councils to establish a 'sanctuary corridor' across London. This network will partner with migrant organisations, law centres, and community groups to shield workers. The Labour opposition attempted to amend the motion to include stronger language on modern slavery, but the amendment was voted down.