Dartford Borough Council launch ‘name and shame’ campaign to stop illegal trading.

Dartford Borough Council has launched a ‘name and shame’ campaign on social media, urging residents to identify individuals illegally selling tobacco, perfume and wireless earphones in the town centre.

The council warns these goods may pose safety risks and that the presence of illegal traders undermines local independent businesses on the high street. 

However, independent shopkeepers have questioned whether illegal trading is a significant threat to their businesses and if the campaign will be successful.

David Drazny, owner of Squires on Spital Street, said he doubts the campaign will benefit Dartford’s high street. “I do not believe people buy all that illegal rubbish anyways. I do not think this is the main thing that will harm our local shops. It is that we cannot compete with the bigger companies nearby.”

Mr Drazny also criticised the council’s reliance on residents to report illegal activity. “Where are the Town Centre Wardens [TCWs]? I do not even know what their role is. Why do we have to be the ones to report crime?”

Three TCWs now operate in Dartford to provide ‘a visible and reassuring presence to deter Anti-Social Behaviour’, following the introduction of two in May 2025.

Council records from September 8th 2026 state TCWs have carried out over 2,027 Shop Engagements and submitted almost 1,410 Intelligence Reports in Dartford. 

Eli Yin, who works at Tong Xin Tai Supermarket, was equally not convinced that illegal traders actually threaten local businesses. Conversely, she said the closure of larger retailers in Dartford has affected the high street more. “Since Primark and New Look have shut, we have noticed a drop in sales. We can only rely on the market to attract people to the centre.”

Dartford Borough Council has failed to comment.