Relationships between retailing and socio-economic deprivation have attracted academic and policy interest, notably focusing on health and diet (including 'food deserts') and retail-led regeneration. Recently, particularly after the economic downturn, declining high streets have been a concern. Yet as shop vacancies rose, especially in poorer neighbourhoods, expansion of certain trades perceived by some as anti-social became a concern: notably high-interest lenders and bookmakers operating high stakes gambling machines. Some suggest predatory motives and exploitation of the disadvantaged here, but with little evidence. This paper analyses locations of 'problematic' trades together with other businesses to establish the extent to which concentrations in deprived areas (defined by the English Index of Multiple Deprivation) exist. Several 'problematic' trades do appear concentrated in deprived areas, but so equally do conventional value retailers and poundshops. Areas for future research to clarify relationships are identified, but ultimately motive cannot be inferred from such analysis
