Recruiters and employers are being warned of the risks created by an increase in illegal immigrants entering the UK, according to Eurocom CI, a subsidiary of risk management firm Carratu International.

A spokesperson for the employee vetting service told Recruiterthat up to 90% of the illegal immigrants that come to the UK are working.

Paul Carratu, chief executive of Carratu International, says: “During the past 12 months, we have seen a large increase in the number of illegal workers in our public transport, care homes, hotels and catering sectors.

“Employers now face a logistical nightmare with the volume of immigrants applying for positions in low paid roles that will suit the migrant workforce. Unfortunately, these are the most expensive workers to screen, as it often involves checks in their home country as well as countries they have passed through.

“Any effort to reduce the cost will mean that the security checks are not layered, and without a system in place to cross check or to highlight any irregularities allows the illegal person to gain employment.”