Home Secretary Expands Shop Closure Powers to Combat Organised Crime on High Streets
New governmental powers will permit authorities in England and Wales to close illegal mini-marts, barbers, and vape shops for up to a year. This doubles the current maximum closure period, which previously stood at three months, extendable to six.
Tackling Illicit Trade
Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood announced the changes, acknowledging public sentiment that high streets are being overrun by "organised crime [and] immigration criminality." The Home Office asserts these extended closures will provide investigators with more time to gather evidence, pursue prosecutions, and identify responsible business owners, thereby preventing rogue operators from simply reopening.
Trading Standards officers, who have consistently reported lacking adequate powers, have welcomed the announcement. John Herriman, chief executive of the Chartered Trading Standards Institute (CTSI), stated there is "almost universal support" for the new measures, viewing closure orders as a vital enforcement tool.
Birmingham Raids Highlight Problem
The announcement followed Mahmood joining police raids on mini-marts along Soho Road in Handsworth, Birmingham. During one raid, officers discovered illegal cigarettes and snuff. A shop worker was arrested after a makeshift weapon – a plank with a nail – was found. The worker, identified as a student from Afghanistan, admitted selling illegal cigarettes but directed further inquiries to the absent manager.
Soho Road has been the focus of Operation Fearless, a West Midlands Police initiative against street-level crime. PC Victoria Gaunt, an officer involved, described the area as among the worst she had encountered, noting the sale of prescription drugs, cocaine, heroin, and cannabis. She also reported a significant increase in prostitution and the exploitation of girls, alongside individuals openly carrying machetes.
Undercover investigations in the area revealed counterfeit cigarette packs sold for as little as £3, significantly below the genuine average of £16.50 to £19.50. Shop workers also confirmed open drug dealing on the street.
Government Response and Timeline
Mahmood underscored the government's frustration with "people who are getting away with breaking our laws." Late last year, she initiated an "urgent" investigation led by the National Crime Agency (NCA), Immigration Enforcement, HMRC, and police forces nationwide. Last month, a new £30 million High Street organised crime unit was announced to fund additional police and Trading Standards officers, tax raids, and crackdowns on illegal working.
The Home Office expects the extended closure orders to become law by the end of this year through secondary legislation, with the new powers set to take effect in early 2027.
