Caravan raid sparks calls for citizenship change

A total of 17 people were arrested after the raid

The arrests of several delivery riders living in caravans have sparked calls for migrant worker citizenship applications to be sped up.

Immigration Enforcement carried out the raid at New Stadium Road, next to the M32 in Bristol, on 9 October, detaining 17 people believed to be working illegally.

Bristol City Council's housing committee chair councillor Barry Parsons said: "The government should be going after big companies that are exploiting workers, rather than vulnerable people."

The Home Office has been approached for comment.

The Home Office previously confirmed 13 people have now been detained and could be removed from the UK due to overstaying their permitted leave.

The remaining four have been placed on immigration bail and are required to report regularly to the Home Office.

Mr Parsons continued: "We'd like to see the government provide routes for people to regularise their status.

"People living in these caravans, they often work in the gig economy - they're contributing to society."

The gig economy is a labour market often involving short-term contracts or freelance work.

"They're delivering your takeaway, growing your food or caring for your loved ones," added Mr Parsons.

"What they need is the ability to become full citizens, and be able to access all the rights and benefits that the rest of us enjoy and expect."