UK to give police power to shut crime‑linked shops a year

The UK government has announced a significant expansion of police powers to shut down businesses suspected of being fronts for organized crime, with new legislation expected by the end of this year. The measures, unveiled on June 10, 2026, will allow authorities to close premises such as vape shops, barbers, nail salons, and minimarts for up to one year, doubling the current maximum closure period of six months.

Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood said high streets across the country have been hijacked by criminal gangs operating in plain sight, using these businesses to launder money. She announced a nationwide crackdown backed by 30 million pounds in new funding to raid and close thousands of illegal businesses, arrest bosses, and seize illicit cash. The National Crime Agency estimates that at least 12 billion pounds of criminal cash is generated in the UK annually, with 1 billion pounds laundered through high street storefronts.

Under existing rules, premises can be closed for up to six months, but businesses often reopen before investigations conclude, allowing criminal activity to resume. The extended closure orders are designed to give investigators more time to gather...