Op Machinize is a national month of action to tackle businesses engaging in criminal activity on our High Streets.
This year’s activity focused on cash incentive businesses suspected of being involved in money laundering and other criminality.
The operation bought together the police, Trading Standards, HMRC and Immigration Enforcement targeting businesses across Berkshire, Buckinghamshire, Oxfordshire and Milton Keynes.
Activity conducted resulted in:
6 arrests
Significant seizure of goods including tobacco, single-use vapes, cash, illegally supplied prescription medication, electronic goods, alcohol and other counterfeit goods
Formal notices issued for fire safety concerns
Formal warnings issued for trademark offences
Thames Valley Police and Crime Commissioner, Matthew Barber, joined Op Machinize activity targeting businesses in Bracknell during the month of action.
He said: “Businesses operating outside of the law on our High Streets fuel criminality, make people feel unsafe, undermine legitimate businesses and place consumers at risk.”
“By cracking down on criminal activity and removing illicit products from sale, we are protecting local communities from harm and helping to restore a sense of security, but the police need more powers if we are to remove these businesses from our High Streets.
“Earlier this year, I worked with colleagues in the House of Lords to seek an amendment to the Crime and Policing Bill that would have strengthened the powers of the Police, local councils and the courts to shut down criminal businesses operating on our High Streets.
“Disappointingly, the Government blocked the amendment, but I am continuing to lobby for changes that will make it easier for the police to close down criminal businesses quickly.”
Head of Community Policing Command at Thames Valley Police, Superintendent John Batty, said: “The vast majority of businesses across Thames Valley operate lawfully and make a valuable contribution to our communities.
“Our aim is to protect those legitimate businesses while disrupting criminals who seek to exploit cash-intensive premises to conceal unlawful activity.
“We will continue to use intelligence-led activity, alongside our partners, to disrupt and bring to justice those involved in money laundering, the sale of illegal and counterfeit goods and other criminal activity.”
