Everyone deserves to feel safe in their local town centre. Our high streets should be places where people can shop, work and spend time with family and friends, not places where criminal activity is allowed to take root.
That is why I recently spoke in a Westminster Hall debate on rogue businesses operating on our high streets, highlighting concerns that have been raised with me by residents and businesses across Stourbridge, Brierley Hill and Netherton.
Across the country, there has been growing concern about businesses that appear to operate as a front for organised crime. These premises can be linked to offences including money laundering, illicit tobacco and vapes, the sale of counterfeit goods, tax evasion, immigration offences, modern slavery and labour exploitation. They often undermine legitimate local businesses that work hard, pay their taxes and contribute positively to our communities.
During the debate, I made clear that tackling this issue requires a coordinated response, with easier methods of reporting. I also praised our local trading standards team, who are already doing an amazing job at cracking down on these shops, but who need more support in being able to shut them down permanently.
I also highlighted the impact these businesses have on confidence in our high streets. When residents see shops repeatedly changing hands, selling illegal goods or operating in suspicious ways, it damages trust and discourages investment. Honest traders should not have to compete with businesses that ignore the law.
Our local high streets are full of fantastic independent businesses that are the heart of our communities. They deserve a level playing field and should never be undercut by criminal operators.
I will continue working with local businesses, Dudley Council, West Midlands Police and Ministers to ensure rogue operators are held to account and that our town centres remain safe, welcoming places for everyone.
The Government is also taking action in this space – from the Plan for Neighbourhoods to Pride in Place, funding is being injected into local areas to improve public spaces. Councils also now have new High Street Rental Auction powers, allowing them to tackle longterm vacant commercial properties and help bring businesses back into empty units. There is also the High Streets Fund to support the refurbishment of shopfronts and bring vacant premises back into use, as well as the new community empowerment measures which give greater opportunities for communities to purchase and protect local assets such as pubs and community buildings. There are also strengthening community policing powers to help tackling anti social behaviour on our high streets.
