Tougher action needed on hand car wash illegal workers

Richard Aucock, Contributor
Mon, 16 Jun 2025

A recent government crackdown on hand car washes hiring illegal workers is encouraging but doesn’t go far enough, says an industry trade body.

The Car Wash Association (CWA) has welcomed the crackdown, but wants enforcement to go further still in order "to tackle and issue which can cost the Treasury hundreds of thousands."

The CWA says there has been a 51% rise in illegal working-related arrests since the election in July 2024. Immigration Enforcement teams have also undertaken nearly 50% more visits, as part of effords to intensify activity across the UK.

"The scale of non-compliance is extremely alarming and these operations undermine legitimate car washes. Civil penalties up to millions were issued during 2024 alone – however, only 5% of these fines were collected," says CWA chairman Brian Madderson.

"CWA urges swifter government action and harsher penalties. For instance, suspending of businesses until fines are fully paid. CWA will continue to lobby the Government and push for stronger measures."

The recent crackdown is part of a Home Office drive to disable the illegal working trade in the UK.

Particular focus has been on tackling employers facilitating illegal working, often subjecting migrants to squalid conditions and illegal working hours below minimum wage.

In many cases, says the CWA, individuals travelling to the UK illegally are "sold a lie" by smuggling gangs that they will be able to live and work freely in the UK. In reality, they often end up facing squalid living conditions, minimal pay and inhumane working hours, with the threat of arrest and removal if they are caught working illegally.     

The Home Office states it is a legal requirement for employers to carry out Right to Work checks – and those who fail to do so face hefty penalties including fines of up to £60,000 per worker, director disqualifications and potential prison sentences of up to five years.

Ask HJ

Is it possible to cause damage to cars by jet washing?

My Mercedes CLK280 was recalled for a sunroof check. When I got it back, the auto-lights failed followed by the interior light and then the sunroof. A swathe of lacquer had been taken off the boot where a tiny amount had been off before hence I only washed it gently. It transpires they had jet-washed the car without my permission and this caused the damage forcing water into the circuit board and taking the lacquer off. They dispute this. In your experience, have you come across this before? Water comes in through the window seals if jet-washed but all the car is water tight in torrential rain etc?

A badly-handled jet washer can certainly cause this kind of damage. Cars are obviously designed to be waterproof, but a jet washer held too close to a seal can easily result in water entering places it should not thanks to the high velocity of water. As cars age the seals can also become less efficient at keeping out water as they harden. It is also possible to damage paint if it is already in poor condition.

Answered by David Ross

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