- The UK government has launched a new specialist law enforcement unit, supported by £20 million, to combat criminal gangs operating from illicit high street businesses nationwide.
- This initiative includes the establishment of a dedicated National Crime Agency (NCA) cell to coordinate the response and the recruitment of 75 new police officers specifically assigned to tackle high street gangs.
- The move comes in response to alarming estimates from Trading Standards, indicating that a significant proportion of convenience stores, vape retailers, American candy stores, and fast-food takeaways are linked to organised crime or act as fronts for illegal activities.
- Additional funding includes £6 million for Trading Standards, £1.5 million for Immigration Enforcement, and £1.35 million for HMRC, alongside new training programmes for officers to identify suspicious businesses.
- Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood stated the crackdown aims to dismantle these criminal operations, seize illicit funds, and remove organised crime from high streets, with thousands of businesses expected to be raided, hundreds of arrests made, and millions in cash confiscated.
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