SHOPS laundering criminal cash will be targeted by a 75-strong police unit, the Government said yesterday.
Rogue barbers, sweet shops and vape stores suspected of links to organised will be investigated.
A shop in Essex was shut by police Credit: Unknown
Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood announced a nationwide crackdown Credit: Getty
The has pledged £30million for a three-year high street crackdown and hundreds of arrests are expected.
Two-thirds of the funding will go on creating a National Crime Agency (NCA) unit to lead the blitz.
It will be supported by in Manchester, the West Mids, Kent and Essex.
Trading standards units will be bolstered to tackle the gangs behind stores.
It comes as trading standards officers estimate half of convenience stores and vape retailers in some areas are linked to
And a third of US-style sweet shops and one in four fast-food outlets in some areas are suspected of being a front.
Home Secretary said: “Criminal gangs have exploited our high streets to launder their 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.”
Chartered Trading Standards Institute boss John Herriman said put consumers at risk and undermine the legitimate businesses which drive economic growth.
In the last 18 months, 950 people have been nicked with £10million of criminal assets seized, the NCA said.
HIGH ST RECLAIM
By Dan Jarvis, Security Minister
OUR high streets have been quietly hijacked.
Vape or sweet shops, barbers and nail bars popping up.
They never seem busy, staff change every few months, they prefer cash.
All too often, they are a front for money laundering, tax evasion or drug running.
High streets belong to hard-working people, families, honest businesses, not organised criminals.
And we are taking them back.
Eze Chidiebere Paul
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