Overview

• Over the past year, regulators have struck 11,500 companies from the register as part of a coordinated operation against suspected shell firms.
• Law enforcement teams visited 11 addresses used by 30 high-risk trust and company service providers, uncovering 4,000–5,000 businesses registered at one London formation agent.
• Three high-risk service providers have been shut down, 27 others face enforcement action, and key individuals have been barred from making further company registrations.
• Criminal referrals have been submitted to the Insolvency Service and significant assets have been identified for civil recovery by law enforcement.
• The operation builds on 2023 reforms granting Companies House new identity verification and document-rejection powers to strengthen defences against economic crime.