Police to be given funding boost in crackdown and raids on 'dodgy' shops across region

Rogue barber shops, vape stores, mini-marts and sweet shops across the region linked to organised crime will be hit

Police are to be given a funding boost in a major crackdown on ‘dodgy’ shops across Greater Manchester. Organised crime gangs operating across the region will be hit by the new offensive as part of the national plans to shut down the illegal operations.

The Home Office said rogue barber shops, vape stores, mini-marts and sweet shops across Greater Manchester linked to organised crime will face raids, closures and seizures. It is part of the £20 million of funding for the High Street Organised Crime Unit for the national crackdown on money laundering and illegal working.

The unit is to provide national backing to the immediate funding for UK regions with the some of the highest levels of high street organised crime, which includes Greater Manchester as well as the West Midlands, Kent and Essex, it was announced.

Click here to get the biggest stories straight to your inbox in our Daily Newsletter

Across Greater Manchester, additional funding will support enforcement activity in Rochdale, Bury, and Bolton. They are the areas identified as containing the highest levels of high street organised crime activity by the National Crime Agency (NCA).

Under Operation Machinize, Greater Manchester Police carried out more than 120 visits to high-street premises, made 14 arrests, and disrupted dozens of illicit businesses across the region.

It comes just days after a major new report highlighted the staggering number of high streets which are believed to have become awash with illegal activity, with shops being used as a front for illicit purposes.

According to the Chartered Trading Standards Institute, up to half the number of ‘mini-marts’ and vape shops in parts of the UK are estimated by trading standards officials to have links with organised crime. Around a third of ‘American’ sweet shops and a quarter of fast food takeaways are also estimated to have links with organised crime in some areas.

And the NCA estimates at least £12bn of criminal cash is generated in the UK. Money is often laundered through high street shops like mini-marts, barber shops, vape stores and sweet shops to hide profits. Some businesses are also connected to the sale of fake goods, tax evasion, illegal working and illegal drug supply.

The move is expected to see thousands of businesses raided, with hundreds of arrests made and millions in cash seized nationally.

Security Minister, Dan Jarvis, said: “Criminal groups are using seemingly legitimate businesses across Greater Manchester as fronts for serious organised crime, money laundering, and illegal working.

“We are backing Greater Manchester Police with new funding, better intelligence, and more officers to target these criminal enterprises.

“The High Street Organised Crime Unit will bring together law enforcement, government, and local authorities to put these criminal groups out of business and restore confidence on our high street.”