Britain’s government has launched a TikTok account featuring footage of raids on migrants suspected of working illegally, as part of an effort to persuade voters and potential arrivals that it is getting to grips with immigration.
The account, securebordersuk, has posted a 20-second video showing armoured officers forcing entry to premises, people being escorted from workplaces in handcuffs and aircraft taking off. Set to dramatic music, on-screen text highlights a rise in enforcement raids and deportations, ending with the message: “And it’s just getting started.”
The move forms part of Prime Minister Keir Starmer’s attempt to rebuild public support after 18 months in office, during which his Labour Party has fallen well behind Nigel Farage’s right-wing Reform UK in opinion polls.
A spokesperson for Starmer said the channel was intended to reach a broader audience, challenge misinformation online and speak directly to migrants considering coming to Britain.
Several European governments have also adopted a tougher approach to migration. Surveys consistently rank immigration as a leading concern among British voters, with Ipsos polling in 2025 showing Reform as the party most trusted on the issue.
The government says that since taking office in July 2024, enforcement action against illegal working has reached record levels. It reports a 77% increase in workplace raids and an 83% rise in arrests, targeting businesses such as nail salons, car washes and barbers.
The so-called black economy is often cited as a key factor encouraging tens of thousands of migrants to attempt illegal crossings to Britain in small boats from France.
Against a backdrop of public spending cuts and higher taxes, irregular boat crossings have become a focal point of political debate, with more than 40,000 arrivals recorded in 2025.
While such crossings make up only a small share of overall net migration — which is declining sharply as stricter visa rules take effect — they continue to attract intense public attention.
The TikTok video drew criticism from across the political spectrum, with some arguing the government should go further, while others said the footage was insensitive to those shown.
“This government is clearly addicted to scoring cheap political points by turning the brutality of enforcement raids into click-bait online entertainment,” said Sile Reynolds, head of asylum advocacy at the charity Freedom from Torture.
Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis arrived in Ankara on Wednesday, where Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan held an official welcoming cere...
Three people were injured after a gunman opened fire and held students and teachers hostage at a school in Hat Yai district in southern Thailand on We...
This week's Washington meeting between Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu and U.S. President Trump is not routine, says geopolitical analyst Ilan Scialo...
The United States and Azerbaijan signed a new strategic partnership agreement in Baku on Tuesday, expanding cooperation on defence, energy security, a...
Uzbekistan is combining renewable energy expansion with sweeping land restoration, installing solar stations in local communities while rehabilitating...
Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis arrived in Ankara on Wednesday, where Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan held an official welcoming ceremony at the Presidential Palace, marking the start of high-level talks between the two NATO allies.
Three people were injured after a gunman opened fire and held students and teachers hostage at a school in Hat Yai district in southern Thailand on Wednesday, police said.
This week's Washington meeting between Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu and U.S. President Trump is not routine, says geopolitical analyst Ilan Scialom, calling it a “high-stakes preventive diplomatic strike” to secure Israel’s strategic priorities ahead of potential Iran talks.
Afghanistan’s humanitarian situation remained severe throughout 2025, with millions still struggling to meet basic needs, according to a new report by the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC).
JD Vance arrived in Armenia on Monday (9 February), becoming the first sitting U.S. Vice President to visit the country, as Yerevan and Washington agreed to cooperate in the civil nuclear sector in a bid to deepen engagement in the South Caucasus.
The United States and Azerbaijan signed a strategic partnership in Baku on Tuesday (10 February) encompassing economic and security cooperation as Washington seeks to expand its influence in a region where Russia was once the main power broker.
Buckingham Palace said it is ready to support any police investigation into allegations that Prince Andrew shared confidential British trade documents with late sex offender Jeffrey Epstein, as King Charles expressed “profound concern” over the latest revelations.
Chinese authorities have quietly signalled a shift in strategy, instructing some state-owned banks to rein in their purchases of U.S. government bonds.
U.S. military forces have seized a sanctioned oil tanker in the Indian Ocean after tracking the vessel from the Caribbean Sea, the Pentagon said on Monday.
This week's Washington meeting between Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu and U.S. President Trump is not routine, says geopolitical analyst Ilan Scialom, calling it a “high-stakes preventive diplomatic strike” to secure Israel’s strategic priorities ahead of potential Iran talks.
Three people were injured after a gunman opened fire and held students and teachers hostage at a school in Hat Yai district in southern Thailand on Wednesday, police said.
The Philippine foreign ministry on Wednesday (11 February) called on the Chinese Embassy in Manila to adopt a “constructive” tone in its statements, amid an intensifying war of words between Chinese diplomats and Philippine officials, including senators.
Norway’s Sturla Holm Laegreid, who won bronze in the men’s biathlon at the Milano Cortina 2026 Winter Olympics on Tuesday (10 February) in Italy, stunned viewers by publicly admitting he had cheated on his girlfriend and pleaded for another chance during post-race interviews.
Kyiv is preparing to outline a simultaneous return to the ballot box and a public vote on a potential peace settlement, the Financial Times reports. It would mark a pivotal shift in the country's political landscape on the fourth anniversary of Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine.
You can download the AnewZ application from Play Store and the App Store.
What is your opinion on this topic?
Leave the first comment