My love of our high streets goes back many years, having set up my own business there and being part of that community, I want to see our high streets thriving and local communities buzzing.
But making a small business work is not easy – and restoring pride in our high streets so these enterprises can flourish is vital.
Part of this will be done by tackling the issue of dodgy shops.
In the past, shops have been ordered to close for three months, including one in Barrow following a joint operation by Westmorland and Furness Trading Standards and Barrow Neighbourhood Policing Team.
The closure order was brought under anti-social behaviour legislation and the sales of illegal tobacco or vapes from a business. But all too often these businesses are able to pop up again because our legislation and framework just wasn’t strong enough.
The National Crime Agency estimates at least £12bn in criminal cash is generated in the UK each year, with around £1bn laundered through shifty high street businesses.
Labour is determined to restore confidence in our high streets and support honest businesses with a new High Street Organised Crime Unit to co-ordinate national action to tackle money laundering, illegal working, tax evasion, the sale of fake goods and illegal drug supply.
This will strengthen enforcement against criminal networks that undermine legitimate businesses and make communities feel unsafe. There are many fantastic barbers, nail bars and convenience stores who add value to our towns and communities, but sadly the criminal elements are unfairly damaging their reputation too.
It’s difficult to feel pride when our streets and roads are covered in litter, so I have also been pressing for tougher measures to be taken against fly-tippers whose selfish antics have blighted our communities for far too long.
New plans are in place to crackdown on these groups and individuals.
Those culpable face having their driving licences revoked or, in some cases, their vehicles crushed.
Many readers will have come across the results of this illegal activity.
Quite often it is building waste or household rubbish that gets chucked away – and there are examples of perpetrators waiting until nightfall before driving to lanes or even beaches to get rid of the debris.
New powers are being made available for councils to monitor areas and crush or permanently remove vehicles suspected of involvement in illegally dumping building waste or household rubbish.
Fly-tippers also face being ordered to complete up to 20 hours of unpaid work cleaning streets and parks as part of new clean-up squads and they will have to repay the cost of clearing up their illegally dumped waste.
They could face penalty points on their driving licences – with the most serious offenders risking losing their licences altogether.
New laws will require all waste carriers and dealers to move from simple registration to a permit-based system.
Those who mis-describe waste or dump it illegally will face up to five years in prison.
They will also need to show they understand how to handle and transport the waste they are carrying.
The Environment Agency will be equipped with stronger powers to revoke permits, issue enforcement notices and act quickly against those who breach their conditions.
Labour’s reforms will level the playing field, give legitimate businesses more confidence and help to build a cleaner, stronger local economy that I know will be welcomed across our communities.