MPs, retailers and industry groups have written to the UK Government, calling for action to tackle the UK’s dangerous black market, and 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 (NBCC), the Chartered Trading Standards Institute (CTSI), 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.
The challenge facing responsible businesses:
85% of convenience retailers state that illicit activity around their store has increased over the last year (ACS Crime Report 2026)
The majority (57%) of Trading Standards services have fewer that four staff per 100,000 people (Which?)
Over half (52%) of convenience retailers believe incidents involving organised crime groups have increased in the last twelve months (ACS Crime Report 2026)
The letter urges the Government to take action in three main areas:
- Provide more funding for Trading Standards teams to enforce in local communities
- Make it easier to report illicit activity, as local Trading Standards teams can be difficult to contact and reporting through Citizens Advice can be inconsistent
- Provide police with the legal powers to access tobacco track and trace data to support enforcement action against the illicit trade
Association of Convenience Stores chief executive Ed Woodall 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 said: “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.
“I have 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 is clear that enforcement agencies need stronger powers and better coordination to tackle this growing problem effectively.
“We must send a clear message that this kind of activity will not be tolerated. That means giving Trading Standards and local authorities the tools they need to act swiftly, protect high streets, and keep dangerous products out of our communities.”
Lisa Maslen, Superintendent at the NBCC, said: “Illicit trade is not a victimless issue, it undermines legitimate businesses, puts consumers at risk, and fuels wider criminal activity in our communities. From an NBCC perspective, we are increasingly concerned about the scale and visibility of these operations on our high streets.
“Responsible retailers are doing the right thing, but they cannot tackle this alone. Without adequate resourcing for enforcement and stronger mechanisms to report and act on illicit activity, the situation will only worsen.
“We strongly support this call for coordinated action and greater investment to ensure that enforcement bodies have the tools they need to protect both consumers and compliant businesses.”
Duncan Stephenson, Policy and External Affairs Director at CTSI said: ““We very much welcome this latest research and campaigning from ACS. They rightly highlight the significant risk to the level playing field for business which is being caused by the proliferation of illicit trade on UK High Streets and elsewhere. It is no surprise that the erosion of much needed protections for High Street businesses and record levels of detriment for consumers, coincides with year on year depletion of Trading Standards resources across UK communities. We fully support ACS calls to significantly increase the resourcing for local Trading Standards and enforcement to help tackle this threat and better protect UK businesses and consumers.”
The letter comes as retailers and industry groups host a roundtable discussion in Parliament today with MPs (Wednesday 25th March), discussing the scale of the problem facing legitimate responsible businesses and the action needed to stop illicit sellers.
