Six people have been arrested as part of a Home Office investigation into illegal working in the care industry.

The men and women from Botswana and Zimbabwe were arrested on suspicion of immigration offences at properties in Alma Road, Southampton on 1 March.

None of the suspects had permission to work in the UK with four believed to be working in the care industry.

South Central immigration enforcement assistant director, Matt Wilkinson, said: “These arrests have prevented those without employment rights in the UK from working with vulnerable people, and ensured that people abusing our immigration laws are brought to justice.

“The success of this operation shows that we will stop at nothing to protect the vulnerable within our communities and take firm action against those who are profiting from exploitation.

“All employers in the UK have a responsibility to prevent illegal working. Employers can be jailed for five years and pay an unlimited fine if they are found guilty of employing someone they knew or had ‘reasonable cause to believe’ did not have the right to work in the UK.

“Medical professionals can apply for a Health and Care Worker visa to allow them to work in the UK legally with the NHS, an NHS supplier or in adult social care.

“Our Nationality and Borders Act will ensure the system is fair to those in genuine need and firm on those who seek to abuse it.”

In July 2022, five people suspected of recruiting and exploiting Indian students working in care homes in North Wales were handed Slavery and Trafficking Risk Orders (STRO).