The UK Government has announced a major crackdown on organised crime operating across Britain’s high streets, with new enforcement measures targeting businesses linked to money laundering, tax evasion and illegal working.
A new High Streets Organised Crime Unit will lead investigations into criminal activity connected to businesses including barbershops, vape stores and sweet shops, backed by £30 million in funding over the next three years. Trading Standards teams will also receive an additional £6 million to help identify suspicious businesses and strengthen compliance checks.
The move comes amid growing concerns around protecting legitimate businesses and maintaining professional standards – which sounds like a good thing for the hairdressing and barbering industry.
The NHBF’s Response
The National Hair & Beauty Federation (NHBF) has welcomed the Government’s new crackdown on organised crimeoperating through high street businesses, while warning that enforcement must be intelligence-led and must not unfairly stigmatise legitimate barbershops, salons, beauty businesses and clinics.
The Home Office has announced a major package targeting rogue businesses linked to money laundering, tax evasion and illegal working, including a new High Street Organised Crime Unit to coordinate action across law enforcement, Trading Standards and Government departments.
The NHBF said action is urgently needed to protect responsible high street businesses that pay their taxes, follow the rules, invest in staff and maintain safe, professional standards.
The NHBF is calling for a level playing field and fairer regulation across hair, beauty, barbering and aesthetics. It has worked closely with the Government as it campaigns for stronger enforcement against tax evasion, illegal working and non-compliance, alongside intelligence-led action that targets criminal activity without damaging the reputation of legitimate businesses or the sector as a whole.
The latest NHBF State of the Sector survey highlights the scale of the challenge. Published in February 2026 and based on 423 responses, it found that many businesses were working hard with little financial room to spare. Among respondents, 51.5% said trade was steady rather than strong, 30.3% reported that business was quiet or very quiet and 54.8% said they were either just breaking even or already operating at a loss.
The same survey found that fair competition and enforcement are major concerns for the sector, including within barbering. Respondents reported that suspicious activity and wider non-compliance can create unfair competition and reputational harm for legitimate businesses.
The NHBF has said it will continue to press for enforcement that targets non-compliance and criminal behaviour while protecting legitimate operators from being caught up in damaging generalisations.
Darran Gould, NHBF board member and owner of Gould Barbers, said: “Legitimate barbershops, salons and beauty businesses are the backbone of high streets across the UK. They pay their taxes, train apprentices, follow health and safety rules and support their local communities.”
Legitimate businesses simply cannot compete with illegitimate businesses They should not have to compete with rogue operators who ignore the rules, evade tax, exploit workers or use high street premises as cover for criminal activity.”
This crackdown will also protect the public. Hair & beauty professionals are highly trained not just in their craft but compliant in health and safety with rigorous hygiene standards as well as being fully insured. UK clients deserve the right to know that they are entering a fully compliant barbershop or salon, feeing totally safe and comfortable. What the Government has just announced is a real step forward. Let’s hope this is the start of a level playing field.”
The NHBF’s survey also found that the biggest cost pressures facing businesses were National Minimum Wage and National Living Wage increases, employer National Insurance Contributions and energy prices.
The NHBF said the announcement should be part of a wider strategy to support high streets and compliant small businesses.
Enforcement must be matched by wider reform so that responsible businesses are not pushed into survival decisions while rogue operators are allowed to undercut them.
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