00:00High streets are places people rely on for shopping, work and everyday life.
00:07In Birmingham, debate has sharpened after raids on Soho Road in Hansworth,
00:12where police and trading standards officers targeted premises
00:16suspected of illegal sales and wider criminal links.
00:21The government wants closure orders for illegal minimarts, barbers and vape shops to last for a year.
00:27At present, authorities in England and Wales can close a shop for just three months,
00:32with a possible extension to six months currently available.
00:36The Home Office says longer closures would give investigators more time to gather evidence,
00:41pursue prosecutions and identify who exactly controls a business.
00:47Trading standards leaders say the change would make it harder for rogue operators simply to wait, reopen and carry on.
00:54West Midlands Police has been running Operation Fearless around Soho Road,
00:59aimed at street-level crime and anti-social behaviour.
01:04Officers have reported finding illegal tobacco, drugs and weapons during enforcement work,
01:10but suspects are entitled to a fair legal process at every stage.
01:14For legitimate shops, the issue is also about trust and trade.
01:18Ministers say the powers would protect communities,
01:21but the test for Birmingham and the wider West Midlands will be whether enforcement is strong, fair and sustained over
01:28time.
01:29.
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