Huddersfield is one of the worst places in the country for ‘dodgy shops’ – as well as three other Yorkshire cities
Aerial view of Huddersfield as town undergoes major transformation (Image: Huddersfield Unlimited / Andy Hirst )
Four Yorkshire towns and cities are among the UK’s 10 worst hotspots for “dodgy shops”.
A report published by the Chartered Trading Standards Institute (CTSI) and the Anti-Counterfeiting Group (ACG) has revealed the towns and cities across Yorkshire and the rest of the UK which are hotspots for “dodgy shops”. These shops are linked to organised crime groups and some offer counterfeit goods.
Now, the organisations have called for the government to invest more in local authority trading standards groups to help them tackle the issue.
Birmingham, Liverpool, and London fill the top three spots on the list of areas which are hotspots for organised crime operating out of high street shops. They are followed by Bradford, Manchester, Leeds, Coventry, Sheffield, Huddersfield, and Brighton.
Sheffield is one of the UK’s worst(Image: Getty)
In Sheffield, the Highfield, Darnall, and Pismire Hill areas are highlighted as some of the worst areas, while Leeds’ Armley, Hunslet, and Harehills areas are listed as among the worst. According to CTSI, these areas were perceived as hotspots for organised crime by Trading Standards professionals in a survey, and supplementary data detailing areas where brand test purchases and enforcement took place, led to these areas being top of the list.
CTSI also found that 97 percent of Trading Standards officers were aware of suspected organised crime groups operating out of retail premises on their local high streets, and 99 percent said they had seen an increase in the number of cash intensive businesses since 2020. In addition, 72 percent said they had experience intimidation, or had been threatened while carrying out their duties.
Some respondents to the CTSI survey said they suspected that up to half of mini-marts, vape retailers, a third of American candy stores, and a quarter of fast food restaurants had links to organised crime in some areas.
Meanwhile, council Trading Standards teams have seen their resources cut by up to 50 percent during the past decade.
The new report has suggested a 10-step plan to fight back against this by empowering Trading Standards to help dismantle organised crime. John Herriman, Chief Executive at CTSI, said: “It is clear from this research that serious and organised crime is endemic across the UK, and the threat posed by illegitimate high street businesses is having a significant impact on the work of Trading Standards, and our ability to protect consumers and maintain the level playing field for legitimate business.
“Local Authority Trading Standards services have faced damaging funding cuts of up to 50% over the past decade, with key enforcement partners experiencing similar resourcing challenges.
“While Trading Standards is not the main or only agency dealing with these issues, our report sets out the significant enforcement challenges from organised criminality operating in shops across UK high streets, and outlines a ten-point plan to strengthen and empower enforcement capabilities to better tackle the criminality.
Aerial View of Leeds, England, United Kingdom on a cloudy Day(Image: Jacob Boomsma via Getty Images)
“We recognise that the Government is focussed on this issue, but it must urgently bring together and properly invest in enforcement agencies – including Local Authority Trading Standards – to give us the powers and resources needed to tackle what is a widespread and growing national problem.”
The plan asks the government to:
- Invest in Trading Standards and the wider enforcement landscape
- Support and encourage partnership working
- Optimise intelligence sharing
- Address eye-watering storage costs
- Accredited Financial Investigators and the Proceeds of Crime Act
- Strengthen Closure Order powers
- Landlords – a carrot and stick approach
- Strengthen enforcement powers
- Empower our Ports and Borders
- Address consumer attitudes to illegal goods
Chloe Long, Deputy Director-General at ACG, said: “We strongly support the vital work of Trading Standards and are increasingly concerned by the sustained decline in resourcing over recent years. Across the country, highly committed officers and teams are ready to partner with us and our members to tackle counterfeiting on the high street, yet their efforts are too often constrained by limited capacity.
“At the same time, counterfeiting has become increasingly sophisticated and deeply embedded within serious organised crime networks. Addressing this growing threat is essential to protect consumers, legitimate businesses and local communities, and requires renewed investment and strengthened resources. Our recommended ten-point plan sets out clear, practical measures to empower Trading Standards teams to deliver effective, intelligence-led enforcement – helping to restore confidence in UK high streets and support sustainable economic growth.”
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