'We will kill you and burn your house': Council staff under attack from High Street gangs
Summary
Council staff in the UK, including Trading Standards officers like Mandy, face serious threats and attacks from criminal gangs running shops that sell illegal goods. These gangs use intimidation, violence, and harassment to stop investigations into their illegal activities, forcing some officers to move home for safety.Key Facts
- Mandy, a crime investigator, received death threats and was forced to move after repeated intimidation by a Kurdish crime gang.
- The gangs operate mini-marts and vape shops involved in illegal sales like counterfeit cigarettes and nitrous oxide canisters.
- Officers report threats including verbal abuse, physical attacks, sexual harassment, and discovery of weapons connected to these gangs.
- Cars belonging to officers have been damaged or targeted with trackers, and some officers were followed or had attempts made to run them over.
- A survey shows 96% of Trading Standards officers face organised crime regularly, and over 70% have experienced intimidation or violence.
- Half of mini-marts and vape shops in some areas are linked to organised crime.
- The Chartered Trading Standards Institute calls this rise in High Street organised crime the biggest threat to their work.
- The UK government is working with police and agencies to fight these criminal businesses.
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