MPs, retailers and industry groups have written to the Government, calling for action to tackle the UK’s dangerous black market, and for it to support responsible businesses.
In a joint letter to consumer protection minister Kate Dearden MP, the Association of Convenience Stores (ACS), the National Business Crime Centre, the Chartered Trading Standards Institute and Labour MPs Melanie Onn, Sadik Al-Hassan and Julie Minns, have raised serious concerns about the visibility of the illicit trade of products like vapes, tobacco, electronics and toys on UK high streets and have called for urgent action to address the problem.
The letter warns that a failure to act would undermine legitimate retailers and consumer confidence about the safety of products sold on their high streets.
85% of convenience retailers state that illicit activity around their store has increased over the last year, according to the ACS Crime Report 2026.
To further compound the problem, 57% of Trading Standards services have fewer than four staff per 100,000 people, according to consumer group, Which? The recent ACS report also found that 52% of convenience retailers believe incidents involving organised crime groups have increased in the last twelve months.
The letter urges the Government to take action by providing more funding for Trading Standards teams to enforce in local communities and to make it easier to report illicit activity.
It also says there is a need for police to receive legal powers to access tobacco track and trace data to support enforcement action against the illicit trade.
ACS chief executive, Ed Woodall (left), said: “Criminal networks selling illicit products are causing major damage to responsible retailers and the communities in which they trade. We need targeted action from the Government to give the police and Trading Standards the tools they need to get these dangerous products off the streets and bring those selling illicit goods to justice.”
Melanie Onn, MP for Great Grimsby and Cleethorpes, added: “The rise of dodgy shops selling illicit vapes and other illegal goods is a serious concern for communities like ours in Grimsby and Cleethorpes. These operations undercut responsible local retailers, put young people at risk, and are often linked to wider organised crime.
“It’s clear that enforcement agencies need stronger powers and better coordination…”
“I’ve been leading a campaign in Parliament to shut down these rogue traders, and I’ve raised this issue directly with ministers across multiple departments. It’s clear that enforcement agencies need stronger powers and better coordination to tackle this growing problem effectively.”
Lisa Maslen, Superintendent at the National Business Crime Centre, said: “We are increasingly concerned about the scale and visibility of these operations on our high streets.
“Responsible retailers are doing the right thing, but cannot tackle this alone. Without adequate resourcing for enforcement and stronger mechanisms to report and act on illicit activity, the situation will only worsen.
Duncan Stephenson (right), policy and external affairs director at CTSI, said: ““We very much welcome this latest research. It’s no surprise that the erosion of much needed protections for high street businesses and record levels of detriment for consumers, coincides with the year-on-year depletion of Trading Standards resources across UK communities.”
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