A recent conviction of a Doncaster shop worker, who has been jailed for 29 years for sexually abusing six children, is further fuelling concerns over crime and illegal activity centred around rogue mini-marts and shops across the UK.
According to the BBC, 28-year-old Bawan Harwe, who worked at Hexthorpe Mini Market in Doncaster, targeted underage girls by offering free vapes, cash, alcohol and drugs before subjecting them to sexual abuse. Sheffield Crown Court heard that the youngest victim was 12 years old.
Harwe was convicted of multiple offences and sentenced to 29 years in prison. A former co-worker, Sharam Muhamadi, was convicted of facilitating travel for exploitation and is currently wanted after fleeing during the trial.
Residents and business owners on Hexthorpe Road told the BBC they were shocked by the convictions but claimed there had been longstanding concerns about illegal activity in the area, including the sale of illicit tobacco and vapes.
A local business owner told BBC that he had reported the sales of illegal tobacco and vapes, under-age sales to children and anti-social behaviour to Doncaster council.
Multiple raids at the shop had taken place, he said, but added that it did not seem to affect business. An hour after Trading Standards left they would start selling again "straight away", he said.
South Yorkshire Police confirmed to the BBC that it was aware of enforcement activity carried out at Hexthorpe Mini Market, while Doncaster Council declined to comment on ongoing investigations.
The BBC also reported that local intelligence reports shared with authorities between 2019 and 2024 raised concerns that children could be at risk of exploitation after being offered alcohol, cigarettes and drugs in some retail premises.
"Shops have been a disturbing blind spot for police and councils' Trading Standards departments," says David Greenwood, a solicitor who represents survivors of grooming and sexual abuse.
He believes the government's independent inquiry into grooming should contain a focus on high-street shops.
This comes as government announced plans to strengthen the laws against shops selling illegal products such as vapes and illicit cigarettes.