The Express's investigations editor, Zak Garner-Purkis, was threatened by a worker inside an American candy shop on Oxford Street during an investigation into the dark secret behind these businesses. The worker lunged at the videographer and shouted, "I'll break your f****** camera," while refusing to give an interview.
Investigation Uncovers Shady Practices
According to Mr. Garner-Purkis, the shop Red Bus Charms was investigated after tourists were charged £900 for two bags of sweets. When police raided the premises last year, they discovered a secret underground tunnel stashed with £80,000 worth of counterfeit goods. Since about 2020, five businesses have been set up and then dissolved from this address. However, the active director of the business listed on Companies House at the time of the raid continues to be listed as a director of the current business.
Worker's Threat and Colleague's Claims
During the visit, an angry worker lunged towards the Express's videographer, shouting threats. A calmer colleague later claimed that the director linked to the address had disappeared and that the landlord was trying to find him.
Oxford Street's Decline
Oxford Street, Europe's busiest street with 500,000 visitors daily and 200 million a year, was once home to flagship stores for M&S, John Lewis, Next, and Selfridges. However, since the pandemic, these brands have been increasingly replaced by American candy, souvenir, and Harry Potter shops. Raids in the area have skyrocketed over the past five years, with Westminster Council revealing in 2023 that up to £9 million had been lost to unpaid business rates.
Impact on UK's Reputation
Duncan Stephenson, policy and external affairs director at the Chartered Trading Standards Institute, said, "If our flagship high street in the UK that's a tourist hotspot for the UK has got dodgy shops, it reflects badly on the country. These dodgy shops are endemic across the UK, and London is one of the shining examples of that."
Political Reaction
Laila Cunningham, Reform UK’s candidate for London mayor, added, "The spread of these shops across Oxford Street isn’t just an eyesore. It’s a symbol of government failure. These are some of the most valuable retail spaces in Britain. They should be occupied by businesses that create jobs, pay their taxes and contribute to our economy. Instead, we’ve seen a proliferation of shops linked to unpaid debts, dissolved companies and repeated allegations of wrongdoing."
