Trading Standards officers across the UK are enduring a wave of intimidation and violence from organised crime gangs operating in mini-marts and vape shops, according to a report by the BBC.
One officer, identified only as Mandy, received a midnight phone call from a Kurdish gang threatening to kill her and burn her house down. The harassment escalated to the point where her car was rammed off the road twice, forcing her and her husband to move homes. Mandy was involved in prosecuting a multi-million pound operation run by a sophisticated gang with a network of over 50 shops.
A survey by the Chartered Trading Standards Institute (CTSI) found that 96% of front-line teams now deal with organised crime, and over 70% of officers have faced threats of intimidation or violence. The CTSI has identified hotspots including big cities and smaller towns like Great Yarmouth and Barry.
Incidents reported include officers being threatened with weapons such as axes, bats, and hammers; sexual abuse; and vehicles being tracked or rammed. One officer recounted a suspect shouting, "I kill you, I kill you," and threatening to rape a female colleague.
CTSI chief executive John Herriman called the rise of organised crime the "number one threat" to the profession. The UK government said it is working with police and the National Crime Agency to take action against these criminal businesses.
Mandy's ordeal left her traumatized. Despite using three different removal companies to hide her new address, she said, "I emigrated from South Africa to get away from that fear in your own home."