A Coventry store has been ordered to close its doors for three months after a Council investigation revealed the continuing sale of illegal cigarettes and vapes.
Tile Hill Mini Market is the second store in the city to be issued with the closure order by magistrates, for selling illegal cigarettes, and the first for selling illegal vapes.
The action was taken after the store was found to be persistently selling illegal tobacco products and vapes, despite an earlier warning to the tenant and requests for interviews.
The Council's Trading Standards Team applied to the Court for the order, which was granted on Monday 18 December 2023.
The sale of illegal cigarettes means traders do not comply with UK labelling requirements including plain packaging and the low cost indicates duty and VAT payments have not been made on the cigarettes or tobacco.
This has been undermining legitimate traders who have suffered in lost trade since the store opened. Vapes have tank capacities and contain nicotine bearing fluid that are often many times bigger than permitted by legislation and often do not comply with UK labelling regulations.
These products are also sold at a lower price which undermines the disincentive to children of high prices, which can encourage smoking from an early age.
Stores that sell illegal tobacco, contribute to anti-social behaviour, and becomes a problem for the local community because often the store attracts large groups of young people.
Cllr Abdul Salam Khan, Deputy Leader of the Council, and Cabinet Member Responsible for Policing, said: "This is the second time the Council has issued such an order for the sale of illegal cigarettes, and is a first for vapes, we are delighted the Court supported our request for a Closure Order'.
"This action has not been taken lightly and follows a lengthy investigation and a previous warning to the store tenant.
"The sale of illegal tobacco products and vapes is a problem in many communities and has many consequences, and in taking this action we are sending a warning to anyone involved in the trade that we will use all resources available to us to protect the residents of our city."
The store has been ordered to close completely for three months and no-one is allowed to access or remain on the premises.
The Illicit Tobacco Partnership, a tobacco control programme, carried out a survey in 2017 which found that 50% of underage smokers in the north-east of England said illegal tobacco had helped them get hooked and we have just seen the closure on the Government consultation on the age of sale of cigarettes and tobacco along with possible new controls on the sale of vapes.