Raid Shuts Another Store
Another store has been ordered to close for three months after illicit vape sales in Lancaster city centre as Trading Standards continue to crack down on the black market
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by Dave Cross
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A Lancaster city centre shop has been ordered to close for three months after the sale of illicit tobacco products and illegally selling a vape to a child during test operations. City Mini Market on Penny Street was served with a closure notice on Monday 13 January after robust action on a series of visits by Lancashire County Council's Trading Standards officers.
Lancashire County Council says that in accordance with the legislation a court hearing took place within 48 hours, but the matter was then adjourned to 29 January.
Blackburn Magistrates heard how officers from Lancashire County Council’s Trading Standards team and Lancashire Police had seized illegal tobacco and vapes from the shop on five occasions since November 2023.
A Trading Standards officer explained how a 14-year-old test purchaser was also able to purchase a vape without being challenged or asked for identification.
Lancashire County Council says: “The application for the closure was made by Lancashire Constabulary under anti-social behaviour legislation designed to tackle public nuisance and disorder. A three month closure order was granted on January 29, which is the maximum period of time available under the legislation.”
Councillor Michael Green, cabinet member for Health and Wellbeing at Lancashire County Council said: “This is a brilliant example of how we can tackle illicit tobacco and underage sales by working together with our partners. By teaming up again with Lancashire Constabulary, we will continue to ensure that the marketplace is a safe place for our residents and children.
“There is no place on our high street for shops that prioritise their profits over the health and wellbeing of our community. Selling vapes and other tobacco products to children places them at significant risk of harm and this is totally unacceptable.
“Our Trading Standards team will always take the strongest action possible against those who openly break the law. We encourage anyone who has concerns about the sale of any age-restricted products to report these to Trading Standards via the Citizens Advice Consumer Service helpline on 0808 223 1133.”
PC Peter Burns from Lancashire Constabulary said: “We are extremely pleased with this result. We have listened to the concerns from the community and worked closely with Lancashire County Council's Trading Standards to target the illegal sales of tobacco and vapes to children through the use of Civil Closure Orders.
“We want to send a clear message that through dedicated partnership working, we will continue to target and disrupt anyone involved in the sale of illegal tobacco and supplying illegal vapes to children.”
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Author generated image using AI, logo added
Dave Cross
Journalist at POTVDave is a freelance writer; with articles on music, motorbikes, football, pop-science, vaping and tobacco harm reduction in Sounds, Melody Maker, UBG, AWoL, Bike, When Saturday Comes, Vape News Magazine, and syndicated across the Johnston Press group. He was published in an anthology of “Greatest Football Writing”, but still believes this was a mistake. Dave contributes sketches to comedy shows and used to co-host a radio sketch show. He’s worked with numerous start-ups to develop content for their websites.
