The Home Office collaborated with Police Scotland on a crackdown on unauthorised e-bike usage and illegal gig work in Edinburgh last year.
Immigration officers joined the Police Scotland-led Fountainbridge operation over two days, and arrested four males – two Pakistani nationals, one Indian national and one Afghan national – for working in breach of their conditions.
In a report for a City of Edinburgh Council meeting last week, the force confirmed the operation – which seized 13 unregistered motor vehicles – and the involvement of the Home Office.
The raid followed increased reports of dangerous cycling and illegal working by migrants – who are often drawn to jobs in the delivery sector and gig economy for companies like Deliveroo and Uber Eats. These jobs often involve working with zero-hours contracts and no fixed hours.
There were initially question marks over the involvement of immigration officers, but the Home Office has now confirmed the raid was a joint effort to tackle illegal work in the gig economy and unauthorized e-bike usage.
A Home Office spokesperson said: “Illegal working undermines honest business, exploits vulnerable individuals and fuels organised immigration crime.
“More than 17,000 illegal working arrests have been made since July 2024, a 122% increase on the two years previous, with almost 25,000 visits carried out across the country, a 111% increase.”
From October, companies hiring gig economy and zero-hours workers, including in the delivery sector, will be legally required to prevent illegal working by checking that anyone working in their name is eligible to work in the UK.
Those who fail to do so could face hefty penalties, including fines of up to £60,000 per worker, director disqualifications and potential prison sentences of up to five years.
The city’s Green Group, however, described the operation as a “disturbing” attempt to target “vulnerable” migrant workers.
Councillor Dan Heap, who quizzed Chief Superintendent David Robertson on the subject at a council meeting last week, said:
“If there are genuine safety concerns, the Police can make the appropriate enquiries, for the safety of both the riders and other street users.
“But, given there is no link between road safety and the migration status of road users, to do this alongside immigration enforcement officials appears to be a disturbing attempt to target migrant workers.”
Chief Superintendent David Robertson said police are committed to “bringing all relevant partners around the table” to tackle the issue of illegal e-bike usage and alluded to the link with illegal gig work.
His colleague Superintendent Wilson added: “I’m quite sure that all members around this table will have, at times, seen ill-advised manoeuvres, shall we say, by individuals on vehicles which are not permitted to be used on roads.
“It is an area which we receive a great deal of concern highlighted through communications with our communities.”
E-bikes modified to be able to travel faster than the average bicycle are required to be reclassified as electric motorcycles. If unregistered, police are permitted to seize these vehicles.
As of October 2025, there had been nine road traffic incidents recorded involving e-bikes or electric motorcycles in Edinburgh since 2020.
In June this year, a hit-and-run involving three Surron-style electric motorbikes left a woman in hospital, sparking calls for tougher action on “reckless” e-scooter and e-bike riders in Edinburgh.
