An investigation led by the Evening Standard’s Senior News Correspondent Anthony France has been looking into the sale of illegal goods and money laundering being carried out by US candy stores in Oxford Street.
There was a rise in new American sweet shops along the world’s most popular shopping promenade post-pandemic, prompted by big-name brands disappearing from the highstreet.
Many of the shops currently owe Westminster Council £9.2million in unpaid business rates.
Anthony tells The Leader podcast how he was stonewalled by staff who had clearly been trained not to provide any information, when asking about business rates.
Anthony also explains how the council is trying to deal with the illegal activity, and how the legitimate businesses on Oxford Street are being impacted.
Listen above, and find us on your Spotify Daily Drive or wherever you stream your podcasts.
