Organised gangs are operating in plain sight on UK high streets, engaging in theft and running illicit shops as part of broader serious criminal networks, the Home Affairs Select Committee has been warned.
Evidence to Committee
Ed Woodall, chief executive of the Association of Convenience Stores, gave evidence highlighting the constant challenges faced by local retailers. He called for a more coordinated approach between police and Trading Standards to tackle the issue effectively.
Mr Woodall stated: "One of the challenges we face as retailers is how to report into the authorities more effectively, but the systems are not as streamlined as they need to be to enable that. Our request into policing is to find ways to streamline that reporting process to make it easier for retailers to report crime and give forces a true picture of the scale of criminal activity in their communities."
Cost of Crime Prevention
The nature of organised crime and retailers' response have led hard-pressed stores to spend over £300 million annually on crime prevention and detection measures. This investment primarily aims to keep staff and customers safe through technology such as CCTV, body-worn cameras, and protective screens.
Reporting Gap
The association also raised concerns about the discrepancy between official figures and the actual scale of theft facing stores. While police record around 500,000 theft incidents for the entire retail sector, the 2026 ACS Crime Report indicates that convenience sector retailers alone have recorded over 5.8 million thefts in the past year.
Parliamentary Inquiry
The Home Affairs Select Committee is conducting an inquiry into the impact of serious and organised crime on local neighbourhoods, examining shop theft, abuse, violence, and illicit products. Alongside the Association of Convenience Stores and the British Independent Retailers Association, the inquiry is also questioning the Chartered Trading Standards Institute and the National Police Chiefs Council to build a comprehensive understanding of the problem and required solutions.
Campaign Against Rogue Traders
Earlier this month, the Association of Convenience Stores launched a campaign to Stop Rogue Traders, calling for longer and faster closure orders to shut down dodgy shops, better and more consistent reporting of offences, and increased funding for Trading Standards to enforce locally.
Mr Woodall added: "Dodgy shops are operating in plain sight on our high streets without fear of reproach, but these are often part of a network of wider criminal activity that involves theft, drugs, violence and other serious crimes. We need to do more to shut down these rogue traders, which can only be achieved with a major increase in funding for Trading Standards and closer links with the police when serious criminal networks are discovered."
