Official data obtained by the Daily Mail shows that more than nine in ten "dodgy" high street shops raided for illicit tobacco, cigarettes and vapes in 2025 remained open for business, despite Labour ministers promising a crackdown on organised crime blighting Britain's town centres. The findings undermine pledges from Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood, who in May promised a £30 million crackdown involving raids, closures and cash seizures, and from Andy Burnham, who vowed to revive "hollowed out high streets" on becoming Prime Minister.

Government figures show that although raids rose by almost 1,000 between 2024 and 2025 to more than 4,000 shops, only 8% of offending premises were temporarily closed last year, with Newham council seizing illicit goods from 94 shops without closing any. Greater Manchester Police reported significant crime reductions, including a 45% drop in public order offences and a 58% fall in burglary, after shutting 206 criminal establishments, prompting calls from the Centre for Social Justice think tank and Labour MP Melanie Onn for tougher measures, including a "British FBI" and stronger closure powers.