Illegal mini-marts, barbers, and vape shops in England and Wales could face closure for up to a year under new government powers, prompted by extensive investigative reporting from BBC News. The proposed legal changes follow the BBC's exposé of organised crime, including drug dealing, child sexual exploitation, money laundering, and immigration crime linked to shops selling illicit goods.

Currently, authorities can only close such establishments for a maximum of six months, with the initial closure limited to three months and an extension to six months possible under anti-social behaviour legislation. The government's planned reform will effectively double this potential closure period, aiming to provide law enforcement with more time to dismantle criminal operations.

Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood acknowledged the BBC's reporting, stating that the extensive investigations highlighted a "massive national problem." She noted that communities felt their high streets were being "taken over by organised crime and immigration criminality," and that the government "was not prepared to tolerate it." Mahmood emphasized that such "open criminality" erodes public faith in local areas and democratic institutions.

The Home Office indicated that the extended closure orders would allow investigators more time to gather evidence, pursue prosecutions, and identify those behind the illicit businesses. This measure is intended to prevent "rogue operators" from simply reopening after short closure periods and resuming their illegal activities.

Trading Standards officers have welcomed the proposed changes, with John Herriman, chief executive of the Chartered Trading Standards Institute (CTSI), calling closure orders a "key enforcement tool" for tackling "dodgy shops." He stated that there is "almost universal support" within his profession for the new measures, as current powers are often insufficient to combat the problem effectively.

Professionals in Trading Standards believe the extended closures will make it less financially viable for unscrupulous business owners to simply wait out a closure order. Furthermore, it is expected to compel landlords to exercise greater due diligence regarding who they lease their properties to, thereby reducing opportunities for criminal enterprises.

The BBC's reporting, which spanned nine months, included joining the Home Secretary on police raids of mini-marts on Soho Road in Birmingham. During these operations, authorities encountered various forms of illegal activity, underscoring the urgency for enhanced enforcement capabilities.

The government's announcement signals a significant shift in its approach to tackling organised crime on high streets, directly responding to findings that exposed the scale and nature of criminal exploitation facilitated by certain retail outlets.