Organised criminal networks operating behind rogue barbers and vape shops will be subject to raids, shutdowns and cash seizures under a new High Street Organised Crime Unit.
The unit, overseen by Security Minister Dan Jarvis, will bring together local police with government departments and Trading Standards to tackle money laundering, tax fraud and illegal working. It will be tasked with identifying further measures to fight organised crime, with a rapid review of local responders’ powers already underway.
Daniel Zeichner said: “Under fourteen years of Tory government police budgets were cut, our high streets were neglected, and we saw more and more dodgy businesses appearing in town centres. Some of these businesses take advantage of consumers, undercut honest business owners and give cover to criminal networks right at the heart of our communities.
“Our Labour Government was elected on a pledge to repair the damage and make our streets safer. This new initiative will redouble our efforts to clean up our high streets and protect working people.”
Cambridgeshire Constabulary is one of the forces that will be prioritised for officer upskilling to boost national intelligence gathering and build a dedicated force to fight organised crime on high streets. A new multi-agency coordination cell based out of the National Crime Agency (NCA) will receive £20million to support a strengthened law enforcement response.
Trading Standards will also receive £6million additional funding to step up action against fraudulent businesses, including new training programmes to identify suspicious traders and boost enforcement.
Home Secretary, Shabana Mahmood, said: “Criminal gangs have exploited our high streets to launder their dirty money and undercut honest businesses.
“We are hitting back with a nationwide crackdown to shut these fronts down, seize dirty cash and drive organised crime off our high streets and put bosses behind bars.”
It comes as the NCA estimate at least £12 billion of criminal cash is generated in the UK each year, with £1 billion laundered through high street businesses like mini-marts, barber shops, vape stores and sweet shops. Some businesses are also connected to the sale of fake goods, tax evasion, illegal working, and illegal drug supply.
Thousands of businesses are expected to be raided, hundreds of arrests made and millions in cash seized as a national intensification campaign will be put on permanent footing annually to drive coordinated enforcement across the country.
The new unit builds on existing measures such as Operation Machinize, an NCA-led effort that has visited over 2,700 premises, seized £10.7m of suspected criminal proceeds and made 924 arrests.
