The Chartered Trading Standards Institute (CTSI) has welcomed the Government’s plan to double the maximum length of Closure Orders from six to twelve months, calling it a victory for its recent campaigning.
This extension, part of a broader crackdown on unwanted and rogue high-street operators, will give Trading Standards officers more time – up to a full year – to investigate and shut down ‘dodgy shops’ linked to organised crime, safeguarding communities and protecting legitimate businesses.
However, the CTSI cautions that this positive step does not solve all enforcement challenges. Its member survey found near-universal support for longer Closure Orders, yet key gaps remain: County Councils in two-tier authority areas still cannot issue them at all, and the powers are entirely unavailable in Scotland, where only 11% of Scottish Trading Standards professionals feel their services have sufficient authority to close persistently law-breaking premises.
While the Government’s proposed changes, which also include new planning permissions for vape shops and adult gaming centres, and greater council powers over betting shops, aim to revive struggling high streets, the CTSI stresses that without fixing these jurisdictional holes, the effectiveness of the new longer orders will remain uneven across the country.
John Herriman, Chief Executive at the CTSI, said: ‘CTSI welcomes the Prime Minister’s announcement on the planned extension to the maximum duration of closure orders, which will help to close down dodgy shops for longer.
‘Closure orders are an important enforcement tool available to Local Authority Trading Standards teams. They can provide a more immediate safeguard for communities, and more immediate disruption to criminal activity. The announcement will assist enforcement agencies in being more able to robustly disrupt the most persistent offenders.
‘The presence of dodgy shops on our high streets has a significant negative impact on local communities and legitimate businesses. Local Authority Trading Standards play a vital role in maintaining the level-playing field for businesses and creating safe, prosperous communities, and the announcement is a positive step to assist in efforts to allow our high streets to thrive.
‘We are keen to work with UK Governments to unlock the full potential of strengthened closure orders by addressing some anomalies including permitting closure orders to be accessed in Scotland, and addressing the significant challenge that remains for County Councils operating which are unable to make use of this important tool. These further changes would roll-out coverage to all Local Authorities across Britain and ensure that all local communities and High Streets can benefit from the important role Closure Orders can play in closing dodgy shops and help to rejuvenate our High Streets.’
This positive response to the announcement as not isolated.
Jamie Gollings, co-author of report and Deputy Research Director at the Social Market Foundation, said: ‘This is a significant and welcome step for local democracy and thriving communities.
‘Councils know their high streets better than anyone, yet the ‘aim to permit’ rule has meant they’ve had very little real say over what opens on them. Our research made clear that these venues are proliferating in the poorest communities, are linked to anti-social behaviour, and often fail the basic tests of fairness and harm prevention set out in the Gambling Act itself.
‘Today’s announcement is exactly what we called for and it puts decision-making back where it belongs – with the councils and communities who have to live with the consequences.’
Cllr Eamonn O’Brien, Chair of the Local Government Association said: ‘Planning is about shaping communities, providing the right kind of economic activity and public services for the people that use them, and ensuring the right decisions are made on issues that matter to residents.
‘It is positive that councils and communities will get a greater say on what shops and services are found on their high streets through these changes to the Use Class Order which will require vape shops to acquire planning permission.
‘The LGA has consistently raised that some permitted development rights, which allow uses to change without planning permission, can hollow out high streets and reduce community and democratic oversight of planning decisions.
‘Extra powers will help councils in revitalising high streets and shaping their communities, particularly in regulating betting and vaping shops, while also breathing new life into empty premises.’
Photo: Journal of Studies on Alcohol and Drugs
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