Personal Care Services: Fraud
The question
To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, with reference to the answer of 6 February 2026, to Question 109625, on Personal Care Service: Fraud, through what mechanism will councils be able to block fake barbers that was announced in the press release of 24 September 2025, where the property is currently utilised as a barber and is not vacant.
Answered by Nesil Caliskan
The Government is taking action to give local authorities and communities greater control over the mix of uses on their high streets.
Police and local authorities will be equipped with stronger powers to close rogue businesses being used to conduct illegal activity, such as barber shops, vape stores, mini-marts and sweet shops. Subject to consultation, the Government will use secondary legislation to double the maximum duration of closure orders in order to give investigators more time to gather evidence, pursue prosecutions and identify the criminal bosses directing activity.
A new cross government High Street Organised Crime Unit will also be responsible for identifying what more is needed – from stronger powers to better co-ordination – to stop this criminal activity from happening in the first place.
Verbatim has judged this answer against the question that was actually asked — answered, partly answered, or evaded. Sign in to see the verdict →