#StopRogueTraders: Exposing Illicit Businesses in Our Communities
Convenience stores are at the heart of communities. By working together and speaking up, we can shine a light on rogue operators and push for meaningful action.
The Scale of the Problem
In the last few years, there has been a major increase in the frequency of rogue businesses operating on high streets and in communities across the country. These businesses are often selling a combination of illicit and stolen goods without fear of reproach. The impact that these rogue traders have on legitimate businesses is significant, drawing trade away and harming the reputation of retailers locally.
What We Need
Trading Standards are doing what they can to enforce against rogue traders locally, but resources are scarce and the scale of the illicit trade far outweighs effective enforcement activity.
We're calling for key changes to policy, further funding and stronger powers to help Trading Standards tackle the problem
- Embed action to tackle rogue traders in the Government's national High Streets Strategy and encourage all local authorities to do the same locally
- Issuing closure orders quickly and for longer periods to shut down those selling illicit products
- Give police powers to access tobacco track and trace data so they can identify the origin of stolen products and share intelligence effectively
- Better ways to report illicit activity directly which are accessible at all times
- Significant extra funding for Trading Standards to enforce locally
Research conducted by ACS with Trading Standards experts in 2024 found that enforcement authorities needed an additional £140m over five years, including a battalion of 400 additional enforcement officers, to tackle the scourge of rogue traders. With incoming regulations on additional duty on vaping products coming in October 2026, there has never been a more pressing time for the Government to focus on backing responsible retailers.
How You Can Report Illicit Activity
Current reporting methods are not perfect, but we know that Trading Standards only enforce on the basis of local intelligence, so it's crucial that when you see illicit activity in your area, you report it.
From Monday 9am - Friday 5pm: Call the Citizens Advice consumer helpline on 0808 223 1133
From Friday 5pm - Monday 9am: Use the Citizens Advice service online form to report illicit activity
Reporting Illegal Tobacco: There is a dedicated website for reporting the sales of illegal tobacco where you can report anonymously.
HMRC Fraud Hotline: Report illicit alcohol and tobacco fraud to the HMRC Fraud Hotline on 0800 788 887
Report Direct to Trading Standards: Some Trading Standards offices have set up a direct route for reporting illicit activity, so it is always worth checking your local Trading Standards website to see if they offer this service. You can find the details of your local Trading Standards here.
CAMPAIGN WIN: New £30m High Streets Taskforce
We are already making progress toward our goal to equip local trading standards officers with the resources that they need to enforce against the illicit trade.
In May 2026, the Government announced the creation of a new illicit trade taskforce and a High Streets Organised Crime Unit. Rogue barber shops, vape stores, mini-marts and sweet shops linked to organised crime will face raids, closures and cash seizures under a new £30 million crackdown targeting money laundering, tax evasion, and illegal working over 3 years.
£20 million of funding will go towards an enhanced law enforcement response, including establishing a new multi-agency co-ordination cell based out of the National Crime Agency (NCA).
75 new police officers will be recruited across the NCA, Greater Manchester Police, West Midlands Police and a joint Kent Police and Essex Police Unit, to build intelligence at a national level and increase the number of dedicated officers tackling organised crime on the ground.
Trading Standards will also be backed with £6 million in new funding to bolster the response to sham businesses in at-risk local authorities.
This is a good start, but there is much more to be done. Check back for more updates on the campaign in due course.
