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The UK Government has announced a major crackdown on organised crime gangs operating across Britain’s high streets, targeting businesses linked to money laundering, tax evasion and illegal working
At the centre of the initiative is the launch of the Government’s High Streets Organised Crime Unit, a cross-government taskforce designed to strengthen enforcement against criminal activity taking place on UK high streets.
Backed by £30 million in funding over the next three years, the unit will focus on tackling money laundering, tax evasion and illegal working, with a further £20 million allocated to wider enforcement measures.
Trading Standards teams will also receive an additional £6 million to help identify suspicious businesses, strengthen compliance and support enforcement activity in at-risk local authorities.
The Government estimates that at least £12 billion of criminal cash is generated in the UK each year, with concerns that some high street businesses – including barbershops, vape stores and sweet shops – are being used to facilitate illegal activity, including the sale of counterfeit goods and drug supply.
Industry Response to the Government's High Street Crime Crackdown
The National Hair & Beauty Federation (NHBF) has welcomed the Government’s crackdown on organised crime linked to high street businesses, while warning that legitimate salons, barbershops, clinics and beauty businesses must not be unfairly stigmatised.
The NHBF said the action is an important step towards protecting responsible businesses that pay taxes, follow regulations and invest in staff training and safe, professional standards.
The federation is calling for a level playing field across the hair, beauty, barbering and aesthetics sectors, and has worked closely with the Government to push for stronger enforcement against tax evasion, illegal working and non-compliance, alongside intelligence-led action targeting wider criminal activity.
Its latest NHBF State of the Sector survey, published in February 2026 and based on 423 responses, highlighted the scale of the issue facing the industry. While many businesses reported resilience, with 51.5% saying trade was steady and 30.3% describing business as quiet or very quiet, 54.8% said they were operating at or close to breaking even.
The survey also revealed that fair competition and enforcement are among the sector’s biggest concerns. Respondents, particularly within barbering, said suspicious activity and wider non-compliance had created unfair competition and damaged the reputation of legitimate businesses.
The NHBF said it will continue to push for enforcement action that targets non-compliance and criminal behaviour, while protecting reputable operators from being caught up in damaging generalisations.
Darran Gould, NHBF board member and owner of Gould Barbers, said: “Legitimate barbershops, salons and beauty businesses are the backbone of high streets across the UK. They pay their taxes, train apprentices, follow health and safety rules and support their local communities.
“Legitimate businesses simply cannot compete with illegitimate businesses. They should not have to compete with rogue operators who ignore the rules, evade tax, exploit workers or use high street premises as cover for criminal activity.
“This crackdown will also protect the public. Hair and beauty professionals are highly trained not just in their craft, but in health and safety, hygiene standards and ensuring clients are fully insured. Clients deserve to know they are entering a fully compliant barbershop or salon, feeling totally safe and comfortable. What the Government has announced is a real step forward. Let’s hope this is the start of a level playing field.”
The NHBF added that the announcement should form part of a wider strategy to support high streets and compliant small businesses.
