Prime Minister Andy Burnham announced new government plans to grant councils more powers to regulate the opening of vape and betting shops, aiming to revitalize high streets. The proposals come as part of a broader "10-year plan to bring back hope" to town centers, which Burnham described as having been "hollowed out" by decades of decline.
These measures are a response to BBC News investigations that exposed organized crime operating through high street shops, including the sale of illegal cigarettes and vapes, drugs, facilitation of illegal working, and suspected money laundering. The National Crime Agency (NCA) estimates that at least £1 billion of criminal cash is laundered annually through UK high street stores.
The proposed changes include:
- Requiring planning permission for all new vape shops (England only).
- Tightening the definition of a vape shop to prevent businesses from circumventing rules by labeling themselves as general convenience stores (England only).
- Scrapping the "aim to permit" rule, which currently limits councils' ability to refuse new betting shops and 24-hour slot machine arcades (Great Britain-wide).
- Mandating planning permission for new adult gaming centers (England only).
- Extending closure orders for mini-marts and vape shops found selling illegal tobacco or engaging in other illicit activities (England and Wales).
Political reactions were mixed. The Conservatives and Reform UK criticized the plans, suggesting they would lead to more empty shops without adequate tax relief for other small businesses. Liberal Democrats called for tougher enforcement powers, while the Green Party deemed the proposals "inadequate tinkering."
The Betting and Gaming Council stated its support for action against criminal operators and agreed that local communities should have a say in high street development, noting that around 3,000 betting shops have closed since 2019.
The BBC's extensive reporting on high street crime, including investigations into drug gangs, money laundering, child sexual exploitation, and illegal working, has prompted government action. Recent raids and investigations have targeted shops suspected of criminal activity, leading to seizures of cash, vapes, and illegal tobacco.
