Lewisham Council has officially become the first local authority in the UK to tell the Home Office, "Thanks, but we'll pass on the immigration raids" - at least wherever it's legally possible. A motion proposed by the Green administration, formally approved at a full council meeting on Wednesday, includes a review of data-sharing and service agreements and a pledge not to use council resources or public money for immigration enforcement.
The Home Office, which tends to take these things personally, responded with the usual tough talk: immigration enforcement visits are 'intelligence led,' and they make 'no apology' for working with local authorities to share information and fight 'criminals who fuel immigration crime.'
Home Office data obtained under freedom of information by grassroots group Lewisham Anti-Raids reveals that the area has become a 'major focus' for enforcement, with 177 raids occurring in the SE13 area during 2025 alone. Across London, immigration enforcement teams carried out 2,715 illegal working visits and raids in 2025 (up from 2,008 the previous year), resulting in 2,172 arrests.
Greens councillor Hau-Yu Tam, who proposed the motion, shared a particularly theatrical example: a raid on a nail bar in Catford and a car wash in Brockley in January 2026, attended by then-immigration minister Mike Tapp and a Sky News film crew. 'Despite the resources, despite the spectacle, only two people were arrested and both were later released on bail,' she said. 'A nail bar was raided again a few months later, and again a few days after. Chinese women workers were filmed, handcuffed and intimidated by a large officer team. They were not arrested, but they were intimidated. That is political theatre. That is a theatre of cruelty.'
Labour opposition councillors tried to introduce an amendment about modern slavery, but it was voted down. Labour's Andre Bourne said, 'We are in support of this motion; however, we are making amendments to strengthen it.'
The Home Office countered with numbers: an 83% rise in illegal working arrests and a 77% rise in raids between 1 July 2024 and 31 December 2025, claiming this is 'the highest level in British history.'
Mayor of Lewisham Liam Shrivastava called the decision 'historic' and said it defends migrant workers against 'the hostile environment.' He added, 'Immigration raids do not build safety in our communities, they spread fear.'
Lewisham now plans to work with Lambeth and other Green-led councils to build a 'sanctuary corridor' across parts of London, partnering with migrant organisations, anti-raids networks, law centres, and faith groups.
Prof Jonathan Darling, an urban and political geographer at Durham University, noted that non-cooperation will 'hinder but not necessarily stop raids,' but informing migrant communities of their rights 'may be as significant in terms of reducing the effectiveness of raids.'