As many as half of convenience stores and vape shops in parts of the UK are thought to have links to organised crime, a bombshell report has revealed. Meanwhile, up to a third of American candy stores and one in four fast food takeaways in specific areas are suspected of being a front for criminal activity, according to Trading Standards. The organisation found that 97% of surveyed officers are aware of suspected organised crime groups operating out of retail premises on their local high streets, with 99% noticing more cash-intensive businesses since 2020.

Almost three quarters of Trading Standards professionals also reported experiencing intimidatory behaviour or had been threatened in the course of their duties, according to the Hidden in Plain Sight report.

John Herriman, chief executive of the Chartered Trading Standards Institute (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."

Trading Standards has published a map of high streets across the UK for so-called dodgy shops, along with the 10 towns and cities perceived by its officers to be hot spots for OCGs, with Birmingham, Liverpool and London filling the top three spots.

It said the budgets of Local Authority Trading Standards (LATS) services had been cut by up to 50% over the last decade, with staffing stripped to minimum levels.

Trading Standards warned that this – coupled with resource “challenges” for other key enforcement agencies including police - had coincided with the rapid spread of dodgy shops across the UK, as well as complex criminal networks that underpinned them.

Dodgy shops had a “profound impact” on the safety of the public and the viability of the legitimate businesses around them, while putting the health of consumers, including children, at risk.

These shops often brought with them associated criminality including anti-social behaviour, theft and violent crime, drug supply, modern slavery, and child sexual exploitation.

The report outlined a 10-point plan to “reclaim the UK’s high streets”, including investing in Trading Standards, making the sale of illegal goods a trigger for licence review, and an additional £20 million to bolster Trading Standards resources for ports and borders.

Mr Herriman said: "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.

"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.”

Association of Convenience Stores chief executive, Ed Woodall, said: “Responsible convenience retailers are extremely frustrated with rogue traders operating with impunity in their local area.

“85% of retailers asked in our 2026 Crime Survey said that illicit trading has increased in their local area – this cannot be allowed to continue.

“We have consistently called for Trading Standards to be given the resources they need to tackle the dangerous and growing illicit market blighting communities across the UK.

“Tens of millions of pounds need to be invested in local enforcement capacity to shut down these rogue traders and support the responsible retailers that are suffering as a result.”

The Independent British Vape Trade Association chief executive Gillian Golden said: “We commend CTSI and the ACG for putting together this report and fully endorse their 10-point plan.

“The media often conflate organised criminal networks with law-abiding vape businesses, when in fact these criminals just see illicit vapes as a commodity in the same way as illicit tobacco or counterfeit goods. That has damaged the public’s understanding of our sector.

“We have already seen where greater inter-agency working to tackle organised crime has been successful. It would be an even greater win for legitimatise businesses and consumers if the Government takes forward these recommendations.”