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A shop located on Picton Road has been forced to shut down due to the discovery of illicit cigarette sales by multiple owners. The Liverpool City Council’s Public Protection team was first made aware of the illegal activity at The Corner Shop early last year, when reports surfaced about the sale of unregulated cigarettes. Despite numerous warnings and previous stock seizures, the shop owner persisted in trading unlawfully, and subsequent inspections revealed the sale of vapes to underage customers without proper ID verification.
Following an application by the team under the Anti-Social Behaviour, Crime and Policing Act 2014, a closure order was granted on 19 September 2024, prompting a two-month shutdown of the establishment. In addition to the closure, the owner was also instructed to pay £1,200 in extra costs. However, in December of the same year, just a month after reopening, another investigation uncovered that illicit cigarettes and vapes were still being sold to the public, resulting in a warning of further closure if the illicit activities continued.
A visit conducted by the Public Protection team in April of the subsequent year revealed a change in management at the shop, with the new owner being educated on adhering to legal requirements. Despite these efforts, reports of illicit sales persisted, leading to another closure order being served in early September as ownership of the shop changed hands once more in June. Evidence from undercover purchases by the team contradicted claims by the new owner that illicit sales were not occurring.
Subsequently, upon a court appearance on Thursday, 18 September, the shop was mandated to shut down for a maximum period of three months, with the owner facing costs of £3,726.26. The risks associated with unregulated vapes, cigarettes, and tobacco containing banned substances emphasize the importance of complying with regulations to safeguard public health and wellbeing. The Liverpool City Council urges individuals to report any suspicions of illegal practices in retail establishments to prevent potential harm and uphold community safety
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