Rogue shops traded openly for too long - Haigh

The First Secretary of State has said rogue businesses linked to criminal activity have been allowed to "trade in plain sight for too long".

Louise Haigh called shops involved in offences such as money laundering, illegal working and organised crime a "blight on our high street".

Speaking to the BBC following police raids of businesses in Surrey, she said: "Because it's been ignored, that kind of crime has been allowed to thrive and take root in our communities."

Haigh said a "serious priority" of Prime Minister Andy Burnham was to crackdown on these illicit businesses and put pride back in local places.

"We're here to fix the everyday things that frustrate people," she said.

"People lose faith in politics if they see this criminality happening in their streets.

"They want government to step in and if nothing happens then they have every right to ask what's the point of politicians."

During the Surrey raids, one person was arrested and illicit tobacco and cigarettes were seized.

Fire service inspectors also issued several enforcement notices after finding people sleeping on business premises.

Authorities say such arrangements can be a sign of wider concerns, including worker exploitation, modern slavery or immigration offences.

The activity formed part of Operation Machinize, a national campaign targeting economic crime on the high street.

Sal Melki from the National Crime Agency (NCA) - which is leading the operation - said authorities would be "targeting company directors and people higher up the food chain as well".

He said there had been more than 3,000 raids and 1,000 arrests across the country since Operation Machinize began in 2025.

More than £10m has been seized or restrained, with nearly £3m of illicit goods destroyed.

"It's already having an impact," Melki told the BBC.

"We know it is going to take years to turn the tide in what's happening on our high street, but we're committed to doing that."

The NCA estimates more than £100bn is laundered through the UK and its corporate structures each year.

Of which £1bn is laundered through the high street, it adds

The government announced a new £30m High Street organised crime unit in May after the BBC's year-long investigative reporting into illegal mini-marts, vape shops and barbers.

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