The British Independent Retailers Association (Bira) is calling for urgent and coordinated action after a BBC investigation revealed that organised criminal gangs are using high street mini-marts to sell cocaine, cannabis, laughing gas and prescription drugs.
Recent reports have shown that this problem is not new, but the BBC investigation suggests the situation is getting significantly worse. Undercover filming across four neighbouring West Midlands towns found drugs being openly offered for sale in shops, with legitimate businesses reporting intimidation, knife and gun violence, and attempts by criminal gangs to force them out of their premises.
Analysis of local news reports found that drugs had been found in more than 70 shops and linked premises across the country, from Devon to Norfolk to Northern Ireland.
Bira, which works with over 6,000 independent retailers across the UK, says the findings represent the latest and most serious threat to the future of the high street and is calling on all stakeholders to act.
Andrew Goodacre, CEO of Bira, said: "This issue has been highlighted before and it is deeply troubling that the situation appears to be getting worse. The presence of criminal gangs on our high streets is just the latest and most serious challenge facing independent retailers, and it is one that demands urgent action. No legitimate retailer should have to trade alongside criminal operations, and no community should have to accept this as normal."
Mr Goodacre added: "Tackling this requires every stakeholder to play their part. Police, Trading Standards, retailers and landlords all have a role, and we would particularly urge landlords to be far more diligent about who they are letting their premises to. We should seriously consider introducing money laundering checks for potential tenants as a matter of course. Criminal gangs cannot take hold of our high streets if they cannot get through the door in the first place."
Bira continues to campaign for stronger protections for independent retailers and safer high streets, and is calling on the government to support enforcement agencies with the resources and legislative powers needed to address this growing crisis.
Recent reports have shown that this problem is not new, but the BBC investigation suggests the situation is getting significantly worse. Undercover filming across four neighbouring West Midlands towns found drugs being openly offered for sale in shops, with legitimate businesses reporting intimidation, knife and gun violence, and attempts by criminal gangs to force them out of their premises.
Analysis of local news reports found that drugs had been found in more than 70 shops and linked premises across the country, from Devon to Norfolk to Northern Ireland.
Bira, which works with over 6,000 independent retailers across the UK, says the findings represent the latest and most serious threat to the future of the high street and is calling on all stakeholders to act.
Andrew Goodacre, CEO of Bira, said: "This issue has been highlighted before and it is deeply troubling that the situation appears to be getting worse. The presence of criminal gangs on our high streets is just the latest and most serious challenge facing independent retailers, and it is one that demands urgent action. No legitimate retailer should have to trade alongside criminal operations, and no community should have to accept this as normal."
Mr Goodacre added: "Tackling this requires every stakeholder to play their part. Police, Trading Standards, retailers and landlords all have a role, and we would particularly urge landlords to be far more diligent about who they are letting their premises to. We should seriously consider introducing money laundering checks for potential tenants as a matter of course. Criminal gangs cannot take hold of our high streets if they cannot get through the door in the first place."
Bira continues to campaign for stronger protections for independent retailers and safer high streets, and is calling on the government to support enforcement agencies with the resources and legislative powers needed to address this growing crisis.
