Policymakers and enforcement experts have set out a blueprint for tackling dodgy shops and restoring pride to local high streets at a Labour Party Conference fringe event on Sunday 27 September.
The event, hosted by the Association of Convenience Stores (ACS), featured Greater Manchester’s deputy mayor Kate Green, Grimsby and Cleethorpes MP Melanie Onn, Our Coop chief executive Debbie Robinson, Duncan Stephenson from the Chartered Institute of Trading Standards (CTSI), and ACS chief executive Ed Woodall. The measures outlined focus on how government, local leaders and businesses can back legitimate local shops and shut down those acting as a blight on high streets.
Impact of Dodgy Shops
According to the ACS Community Barometer Report 2026, 31% of people say the presence of “dodgy shops” is one of the reasons they believe their local high street is getting worse, making it one of the five biggest factors identified. ACS estimates that £140m is needed over the next five years to effectively enforce against the illicit vape market across the UK.
The government’s £6m investment to Trading Standards through the High Streets Organised Crime Unit is welcome, but further sustainable funding is needed to make a real difference, according to ACS.
Calls for Action
Ed Woodall said: “Responsible convenience stores are being undermined by rogue popup shops and mini marts operating without fear of enforcement action. We need a targeted strategy to shut them down for good, support legitimate businesses and restore pride in the places where people live, work and shop.”
Melanie Onn MP said: “Dodgy shops selling illegal vapes and other illicit goods undermine responsible businesses and damage confidence in our high streets. This work is incredibly important, and I welcome the Prime Minister’s determination to tackle the problem. In Parliament, we have been campaigning for tougher action to shut these shops down, strengthen enforcement and make sure legitimate local businesses are not undercut by those who simply ignore the rules.”
Industry and Enforcement Perspectives
Debbie Robinson said: “As a member-owned Society, we have a long-term stake in the health of our local high streets. Our colleagues work hard to earn the trust of the communities they serve, and responsible stores should not be undercut by traders who break the rules. We need sustained, coordinated enforcement to hold rogue operators to account and support high streets people can trust.”
Duncan Stephenson said: “Trading Standards is very much at the frontline and our work has been significantly impacted by the explosion in dodgy shops and rogue traders in recent years. CTSI has campaigned extensively for additional resources and sustainable funding for Trading Standards and wider enforcement agencies to help tackle this scourge in local communities and to help address the unlevel playing field that currently exists where law abiding businesses are being undercut by rogue traders and dodgy shops. We welcome the recent Government funding to bolster enforcement in 3 areas across the UK, but as we found through our Hidden In Plain Sight report this issue is endemic across the UK and therefore we fully support the ACS calls for additional and sustainable funding. Trading Standards resources and the number of frontline officers have been halved over the last 20 years while the responsibilities placed upon Trading Standards has continued to increase – is it any wonder that our high streets, legitimate businesses and local communities are suffering?”
