Article: Video shop front men `just there to take the rap'

Dave has been working at video shops on Old Compton Street for the past four years. Three years ago he took over as front man. He does not work in the shop himself, but stays on the sidelines, at a pub up the road, "running it.

"If I'm not around, something usually goes wrong, he said nervously. "If we get raided, I've got to get more copies done and up to the shop as quickly as possible. Or I might have to cover rent - pounds 500 a day - if we've had

a bad day.

"We're all here to take the rap - the middle man for the middle man. We pay our rent to a messenger who works for Mr T. Technically, he's my boss and it's he who deals directly with the owner of the property.

Dave takes care of any ...

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