A BURNTWOOD councillor says he hopes a new £30million scheme will help tackle illegal shops.
The High Street organised crime unit will operate via the National Crime Agency over the next three years.
A number of shops across Lichfield and Burntwood have been raided and closed in recent months.
And Cllr Steve Norman, Labour representative for Chase Terrace, said he hoped the new proposals would see the fight against illegal stores stepped up even further.
He said:
“I welcome this and in fact raised the issue of limited powers at a meeting with the police earlier this month following complaints by members of the public.
“I hope there will now be a real crackdown on illegal premises by the police and Trading Standards backed by the funding and extra powers they have been asking for.
“I know that Trading Standards officers’ own professional body have said that cuts to resources under previous governments had helped allow serious and organised crime to gain a foothold in high streets.”
