PM announces new powers for councils to curb problem high‑street shops including scrapping the “aim to permit” rule

The prime minister has announced a set of measures intended to strengthen councils’ ability to control the growth of high‑risk high‑street premises, including vape shops, betting shops and 24‑hour slot machine venues. The package forms part of a wider government effort to tackle organised criminal activity and illicit trading linked to certain retail categories. (Please confirm details with a trusted source.)

The government says councils will be given clearer powers to refuse applications and close shops more quickly where criminality or exploitation is suspected. Enforcement bodies have repeatedly highlighted that some vape shops, mini‑marts, barbers and sweet shops are being used as fronts for illegal activity.

Announced measures include:

• Scrapping the “aim to permit” rule for betting shops and 24‑hour slot machine shops (Great Britain‑wide).

• Stronger powers to refuse new premises applications linked to criminality or risk of harm.

• Expanded closure powers for shops selling illicit tobacco, illegal vapes or operating as criminal fronts.

• A new High Street Crime Unit to support coordinated enforcement.

The key licensing change: ending the “aim to permit” rule

The most significant reform for licensing officers is the removal of the “aim to permit” requirement in gambling legislation. This rule has long restricted councils’ ability to refuse applications for betting shops and 24‑hour slot machine venues, requiring authorities to begin from a presumption that applications should be granted.

Licensing teams have consistently argued that the rule makes refusals difficult even in areas with saturation concerns, vulnerability indicators or known links to organised crime. Scrapping it would allow councils to apply broader discretion, consider local risk factors more fully and refuse applications without needing to meet the current restrictive threshold.