To think that (some) vaping shops and barbers are fronts ....

Police are overwhelmed with the number of parents discussing school disrespectfully on their whatsapp groups.

I’d be very cautious about those unless it’s clear that the cats’ wellbeing takes priority and that they’ve only got cats / kittens who are comfortable in that setting.

I know some cats who would think it was fun but my girl would absolutely hate being in a room with other cats.

A cafe where cats rule the roost. Literally, a cafe with cats roaming/lying around

Probably because they have a few ‘real’ customers, and because the high streets would look worse if the places were empty and boarded up. Then we’d all realise how much the country had declined / was declining and organise mass protesting. The whole time there’s the vague appearance that it’s not a complete shithole, the easier we can be convinced things will improve and be placated!

I very much doubt there’s any councillors or law enforcement officers being bribed to turn a blind eye; I’m sure there aren’t any property owners prepared to forgo rent, enjoying instead the bounty money laundering brings, and very much doubt this activity goes higher and deeper into the heart of UK or foreign government and/or corporations than we mere mortals could ever imagine. And I definitely don’t think it funds human trafficking and/or terrorism.

It's the American Candy stores, Some are genuine, some are money laundering. How do you if visiting a place which is the real deal?

Another dodgy sign with money laundering shops. They sell things which are complete different. American candy and handbags.

Yes, those cat cafes are clearly fronts for nefarious activity too

Our shop has been very quiet this week. I hope nobody thinks we are a front for something dodgy!😂

Yet at the same time, you sometimes have HMRC "task force" staff sat outside legitimate businesses like chip shops, literally counting customers, and then at a future date, comparing the number of customers with the number of sales put through the till, timings, etc.

One HMRC inspector was sat day after day in his local pub making tallies of people using the gaming machines, vending machines and pool/snooker tables. Then, months later, compared his tallies against the recorded takings for that time period.

These are two entirely "random" tax investigations that my honest clients have suffered. In both cases, the HMRC inspector found no discrepancies and after causing a lot of wasted time, hassle and money, the enquiries were closed with no further action.

It's funny how they can find the time and resources sometimes but not others, isn't it?? I think the authorities are either scared of tackling the real criminals or they're "too close" to them in some way. Meanwhile generally innocent law abiding people get fined for parking in the wrong place!

The law really is an ass these days.

The police/ council/ local mp know perfectly well what is going on. I had a rant to my mp recently about it. The thing is these people are linked to knife and gun crime, they do murder people, and run protection rackets. Modern slavery and trafficking is going on under our noses but it isn't fashionable to make a fuss about so is ignored. There are 3 restaurants near me that are "refurbished" every 6 months. Still got the same plastic foliage on the walls, same furniture, still no kitchen. Just a different sign outside. One of them has no windows at all. It is completely out of control. There are two nailbars and a coffee shop owned by the same people. I won't set foot in any of the premises, but it doesn't matter. They don't need customers at all.

@crockofshite yes! I often see a line worker in a cake shop or barbers literally just sitting every single time I go by. May have some customers but no way are they breaking even legally.

A terraced house near my work is used to supply drugs. Everyman and his dog knows, (the boarded up windows, the exchanges through the letterbox, bullet holes on the front masonry etc). The police have done fuck all about it. It’s been carrying on for at least 2 years now seemingly unrestricted.

@bookmarket supermarkets always open next to eachother. My local Tesco and Waitrose are next door, so is the Aldi and M&S and that's just off the top of my head in a one mile area.

@Badbadbunny yeah, thank you. I think you're right. So they can allege they sold way more stuff than they actually did as it's virtually worthless?

They are totally different and are well used. I live in an area with a few cafes like this and people talk about them, but there are always different men in spending money. What people mean is cafes set up for people that are not like us. That does not make them money laundering fronts.

I agree about dessert places. There are a number in town, about two that are busy a lot of the time, and some that are always deserted and can not make enough money to even pay their rent.

Apparently fish and chip shops are a common front for cannabis farms - they cover up the smell and nobody questions the high energy usage by the premises. The one near us was raided by the police, but had been operating there for 3 years with barely a customer.

I know of at least one hairdresser and one Chinese herbalist in my town that are a front for prostitution. No one cares, sadly.

The councils must want them to stay open - they’re the only ones paying business rates

@BobbyBiscuits

With vape shops they do actually sell a tangible product, so it would be more difficult to wash dodgy cash through.

They'll be happy to throw away out of date/damaged stock as they'll be buying cheap crap in bulk from China. Chucking out old stock is just another "cost of doing business" like utility bills, rent, etc. That's why it's always the shops selling cheap stock that are used (or like you say, labour only). Same with convenience stores selling dirt cheap unbranded crisps and soft drinks and sweets, or cake/sandwich/pie shops selling cheap wholesale junk or whatever is on offer from Aldi.

@Tomikka

If you have a suspicion then report to any of the applicable services - even if nothing occurs due to one report / suspicion, it puts a marker on the radar and could be building upon other reports/flags

When it's so obvious, the authorities need to be proactive and deal with it themselves, not rely on random members of public to make enough reports. Police, council workers, civil servants, etc are out and about in their private lives (and when working) so should be opening their eyes and making reports themselves!

Our town had two massive cannabis farms on our High Street. One in an old derelict bank, the other in an old derelict Boots shop. There was a distinct "smell" from both for years. Everyone knew what was going on. Yet the police and council "claimed" they didn't know. So, all the police officers who walked past those buildings daily didn't notice?? Come off it? What about the council officers who'd have to walk past for numerous other reasons?

The authorities need to stop hiding behind excuses and start being proactive.