The Trading Standards Joint Advisory Board for Brent and Harrow Councils is scheduled to convene on Tuesday 3 November 2026. The meeting's agenda includes a review of the mid-year performance of the Trading Standards service and a discussion on the growing issue of organised crime operating within high street retail premises.

Organised Crime on our High Streets

A significant portion of the meeting is scheduled to focus on the increasing presence of serious and organised criminality operating through retail premises on UK high streets. This discussion is informed by reports from the Chartered Trading Standards Institute (CTSI) and the House of Commons Library, which highlight how organised crime groups are utilising retail environments for activities such as money laundering, illicit tobacco and vape sales, counterfeit goods distribution, and consumer fraud. The report is expected to outline the implications of this trend for both the London Borough of Brent and the London Borough of Harrow. The agenda indicates that the discussion will cover the role of Trading Standards in protecting consumers, disrupting criminal activity, and supporting legitimate businesses, as well as contributing to wider community safety objectives. The report notes that activity associated with counterfeit goods, illicit tobacco and illegal vaping products is often linked with wider serious criminality including human trafficking, labour exploitation, drug supply and money laundering.¹

Joint Advisory Board Mid-Year Report 2026-27

The Board is also scheduled to receive a mid-year update on the Trading Standards Service's performance for the 2026-27 financial year. This report will highlight key achievements and challenges encountered by the service, which operates as a joint consortium between Brent and Harrow, with Brent acting as the host authority. The report details that the service has received 2198 service requests during the period, with 957 further analysed by the teams. It also notes that 26 businesses were visited to check compliance relating to the sale of illicit tobacco, and 6 businesses were tested for underage knife sales, all of which passed the required checks. The report will also cover enforcement actions, including infringement reports completed and court costs awarded, and mention the work of two financial investigators who conduct investigations for other local authorities. The report will also touch upon the challenges faced by the service, including reduced staffing capacity due to officer departures and the ongoing recruitment difficulties in finding experienced Trading Standards Officers.