Huge congratulations to West Midlands Police, Dudley Trading Standards, and specialist units for a massive joint operation on Lye High Street this week.

This is exactly the kind of robust action I have been fighting with colleagues in Parliament as part of the Shut Down Dodgy Shops campaign. I helped secure extra funding from the Home Office for West Midlands Police, which is one of three forces nationally leading the charge to tackle illicit high street stores. This powerful campaign proves what happens when central government, local councils, and police join forces to protect our communities.

The results of the raid speak for themselves:

Massive seizures of illegal tobacco and illicit vapes

Three shops shut down for dangerously tampering with or bypassing electricity

Suspected dangerous dog seized

Cash confiscated and criminal investigations officially launched

This isn’t a one-off. Government backing and proactive partnership work mean the fight to clean up our high streets and protect legitimate businesses continues.

Spot a dodgy shop? Report it to Trading Standards or the police. Together, we’re shutting them down.