Councils to get more powers to stop vape and betting shops, PM announces

Prime Minister Andy Burnham has announced that local councils will receive enhanced authority to regulate the establishment of vape and betting shops, a move intended to revitalize high streets. Under new government proposals, vape shops will now require planning permission, and councils will gain greater power to prevent the opening of betting shops.

Burnham stated that town centers have suffered from "decades of decline," leading to high streets becoming "unrecognisable" for many. This initiative follows BBC News investigations that uncovered widespread organized crime on high streets, including the sale of illicit cigarettes and vapes, cannabis and cocaine, illegal labor practices, and suspected money laundering.

The Conservative and Reform parties have criticized the proposals, arguing they will result in "more empty" shops without offering tax relief to other small businesses. Burnham, however, emphasized that these measures will empower councils to better control the types of businesses operating in their town centers.

The prime minister is currently on a UK tour, with Downing Street indicating he is in "listening mode" as he develops a "10-year plan to bring back hope."

Key government proposals include:

* **Planning Law Amendments (England only):** All new e-cigarette or vape shops will need to apply for planning permission from their local council.

* **Stricter Vape Shop Definition (England only):** The definition of a vape shop will be tightened to prevent businesses from circumventing regulations by identifying as general convenience stores or retailers.

* **Abolition of "Aim to Permit" Rule (Great Britain-wide):** A rule that currently limits councils' ability to reject new betting shops and 24-hour slot machine shops will be scrapped.

* **Planning Permission for Adult Gaming Centers (England only):** New adult gaming centers, which provide 24-hour access to gambling machines, will require planning permission.

* **Extended Closure Orders (England and Wales):** Councils will gain new powers to extend closure orders for mini-marts and vape shops found selling illegal tobacco for up to twelve months, a measure previously suggested by former Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer.

The National Crime Agency (NCA) estimates that at least £1 billion in criminal proceeds is laundered annually through UK high street stores, linked to the sale of counterfeit goods, tax evasion, illegal employment, and illicit drug supply.

Burnham lamented that "the rise of vape shops, betting shops and rogue operators have replaced the shops, services, and community spaces that people are crying out for." He asserted, "That's not on. I said we would improve Britain's high streets, and that's exactly what we are starting to do. We're putting communities back in control and giving local people a real say over what opens on their high street."

Sir James Cleverly, Conservative shadow communities secretary, acknowledged that "once-treasured shops" have been supplanted by a "smattering of rogue operators." However, he attributed the problem to Labour's increases in business rates, which he claimed have left "empty units for whoever is left standing to fill." Sir James warned that without government support for high streets and businesses, Labour's increased planning regulation would only lead to "more empty and boarded up shops."

Max Wilkinson, Liberal Democrat home affairs spokesman, cautioned that Burnham's plan "could go up in a puff of smoke" unless stronger powers are introduced to "properly crack down on cowboy vape shops and dodgy operators." He also called for the abolition of the business rates system.

Robert Jenrick, Reform UK economy spokesman, stated that "Until this government scraps the jobs tax, addresses sky-high business rates and provides real, fundamental support for high street businesses, this policy will only create even more empty shops on our high streets."

A Green Party spokesperson dismissed the government's proposals as "more inadequate tinkering and reannouncements," urging the prime minister to "go further and allow councils to introduce rent controls for small businesses."

The Betting and Gaming Council expressed support for "tough action against criminal operators" and agreed that "local people should have a proper say over their high streets." A spokesperson for the industry body refuted claims that betting shops are proliferating "unchecked," noting that approximately 3,000 shops have closed since 2019.

Councillor Eamonn O'Brien, chair of the Local Government Association, welcomed the "positive" development that councils and communities "will get a greater say on what shops and services are found on their high streets."

For 18 months, BBC News has reported on organized crime on high streets, including drug gangs, money laundering, child sexual exploitation, immigration crime, and "ghost directors" linked to storefronts selling illegal cigarettes and vapes. In April 2025, the BBC accompanied the NCA during raids on barbers, mini-marts, and vape shops, prompted by intelligence reports of their use for money laundering and illegal labor. In May and June of last year, secret underground tunnels supplying illegal cigarettes to high street mini-marts in Hull were discovered. July last year saw Freedom of Information requests reveal that 3,700 illegal shops had operated across the UK. In November, the BBC exposed asylum seekers buying and selling high street mini-marts for cash, criminal kingpins erasing £60,000 illegal working fines, and a Kurdish organized crime gang operating across Britain's high streets. In response, Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood launched an "urgent" investigation led by the NCA, Immigration Enforcement, HMRC, and police forces nationwide, stating that the BBC's evidence proved "the system was broken" and contributed to the small boat crisis.

**Exposed: The High Street Crime Crisis**

In March, the BBC revealed that a senior council worker had repeatedly informed West Midlands authorities about reports of children as young as 11 being sexually abused in high street mini-marts. Last month, undercover reports exposed the sale of cocaine, cannabis, laughing gas, and prescription pills. An anonymous law enforcement source described one street in the West Midlands as "lawless." Following the report, six mini-marts and vape shops on a high street in Cradley Heath, Sandwell, were forced to close after investigations by police and Trading Standards. Earlier this year, ministers announced a £30 million enforcement operation targeting high street businesses suspected of money laundering, tax evasion, and illegal working, leading to raids across the country involving police, HMRC, Trading Standards, and Immigration Enforcement.

*Additional reporting by Phill Edwards and Richard Wheeler.*