Dodgy shops raided by police in crackdown on ‘high street criminals’

Résumé détaillé

EXCLUSIVE: The Mirror joined First Secretary of State Louise Haigh on a police raid as part of an operation to shut down dodgy shops piling misery on Britain's high streets

Dodgy shops have been ignored for far too long despite brazenly operating in plain sight - but face being closed in their thousands, a senior Cabinet member said.

First Secretary of State Louise Haigh told The Mirror that the public has got fed up of criminals on their high streets. And a National Crime Agency (NCA) chief said around £1billion is laundered through tens of thousands of shops each year.

Speaking after witnessing a raid on two businesses, which saw police and NCA officers swoop on a barbers and mini-market in Surrey, Ms Haigh voiced her frustration at years of inaction.

Dozens of police descended on the businesses after locals voiced suspicions.

As officers combed through an innocuous-looking barber shop behind her, Andy Burnham's second-in-command said: "It's just been happening under people's noses for far too long. They see it, they're frustrated by it. They're law-abiding citizens and they see this brazen criminality happening on their high streets."

And she continued: "We want to make sure that the thousands of businesses that are operating across the country are cracked down on. It has been ignored for too long, so it's going to be a big tide to turn, but we're absolutely committed to do it.

"This is just one part of our high street strategy to build thriving, successful communities."

She joined officers during the dramatic raid in Walton-on-Thames - as part of Operation Machinize, a £30million crackdown on money laundering, tax evasion, drug dealing and illegal working. The government has pledged to get to grips with illegal activity on Britain's high streets.

Describing the scale of the challenge, Ms Haigh said: "It's prolific, and everybody knows this is happening in their local community and their local high streets. It's just such a source of prolonged frustration for people that they can see it happening under their noses and, for too long, no action has been taken.

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