Vow to crackdown on dodgy shops backed with £30m in funding
The King’s Speech last week made it clear that this Government will build a stronger and fairer Britain - and that work is already underway.
That includes a clear message to organised crime gangs exploiting our high streets: there will be no tolerance for criminal networks operating through dodgy barber shops, vape stores and mini marts. Backed by £30 million over the next three years, rogue businesses involved in money laundering will face raids, closures and cash seizures.
The crackdown builds on Operation Machinize, which has already resulted in hundreds of arrests, thousands of premises being visited and millions of pounds in criminal assets being seized. At the heart of this nationwide effort is coordinated enforcement. A new High Street Organised Crime Unit will receive £20 million in funding to bring together policing, enforcement agencies and government departments to target organised criminality.
High streets are the beating heart of our communities and hardworking local businesses should be able to thrive without being undermined by rogue operators.
Encouragingly, this work is already happening in our town. Last month, two shops on Mayfield Avenue and Central Drive were closed for selling illicit tobacco and supplying age-restricted products. Enforcement teams seized 4,520 cigarettes and 335 illegal vapes with a retail value of £6,700.
Nova Supermarket and Easy Mini Market have each been issued with Closure Orders due to the sale of illicit tobacco and vapes. Credit: Blackpool Council
These new national measures will strengthen and expand those efforts. Increased funding will support more operational enforcement on the ground, alongside additional officer recruitment to ensure communities see a visible police presence where it matters most.
There are already an extra 3,000 neighbourhood officers on Britain’s streets, helping reverse the deep cuts to community policing under the last Conservative Government. In Blackpool, where I delivered on my promise to have a named neighbourhood police officer in every ward, we’re already seeing the benefits.
Last week, Blackpool’s Neighbourhood Policing Team carried out joint patrols with partner agencies to tackle anti-social behaviour in the town centre. Six people were arrested, while a further 19 were dispersed for breaching Public Spaces Protection Orders. That kind of disruptive and criminal behaviour will not be tolerated and restoring pride in Blackpool’s high streets remains a priority.
Blackpool has enormous potential and I’ll continue working with enforcement agencies, local businesses and residents to ensure our high streets are not only safer but thriving once again.