Westminster City Council has seen some success in its clampdown on Oxford Street's US-style ‘candy stores’, with the number dropping to 21 from 29.
The London borough has been working with HM Revenue & Customs (HMRC) and the National Crime Agency to investigate the shops and to pursue £9m in allegedly unpaid business rates.
Council leader Adam Hug said the reduced number of stores was proof that ‘consistent action against unscrupulous traders is making life sour for the sweet shop racket’.
Cllr Hug said: ‘We have energetically pursued unscrupulous traders who sell unsafe or fake goods, impounding more than £1m of items in 18 months. ‘Enforcement action, schemes to encourage pop-up entrepreneurs and our planned £90m programme to overhaul Oxford Street will, I hope, continue to reduce the numbers of candy stores.’
Westminster’s overview and scrutiny committee will discuss a report on ‘Fair Tax and Economic Crime’ tomorrow and consider its continuing strategy, including possible ways to ‘apply more pressure’ on freeholders and long leaseholders who have the candy stores as tenants.
