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The government has introduced new measures allowing illegal mini-marts, barbers, and vape shops to be closed for up to a year, doubling the existing maximum closure period. This change follows extensive BBC News investigations that exposed links between organised crime and various illicit activities taking place on British high streets, including drug trafficking, child sexual exploitation, money laundering, and immigration offences associated with shops dealing in illegal cigarettes, vapes, and drugs.
Currently, under the laws in England and Wales, shops can only be shut for an initial three months, with a possible extension to six months via anti-social behaviour legislation. Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood, who praised the BBC’s investigative work, emphasized that many people feel their local high streets are being overtaken by organised crime and immigration-related criminality. She asserted that the government is unwilling to tolerate such conditions, highlighting how these criminal activities erode public confidence not only in their communities but also in democratic institutions and national identity.
The Home Office explained that extending closure orders to a full year would enable investigators to collect more evidence, support prosecutions, and identify the true owners of illegal businesses effectively. This system is also designed to prevent offenders from reopening operations quickly after enforcement actions. The proposal has received strong backing from Trading Standards officers, who previously expressed frustration with their limited powers. John Herriman, chief executive of the Chartered Trading Standards Institute, described closure orders as crucial enforcement tools and noted “almost universal support” within the profession for the government’s initiative.
During recent police raids in Birmingham’s Soho Road, an area targeted by Operation Fearless to combat street crimes, authorities uncovered illegal cigarettes and snuff, arrested a shop worker for possessing a makeshift weapon, and found ongoing drug dealing and prostitution issues. PC Victoria Gaunt, an officer involved in the raids, described the area as having rampant availability of prescription drugs and controlled substances such as cocaine and heroin, also pointing to public safety concerns and increased exploitation of vulnerable individuals. The Home Secretary acknowledged public frustration over “people who are getting away with breaking our laws, getting away with open criminality” and insisted the new measures represent a significant crackdown on these problems
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