A total of eight shops across Cheshire, including three in Warrington, have been shut down by police and Trading Standards following reports of anti-social behaviour and the illegal sale of vapes and cigarettes. The off-licences in Warrington, Crewe, Nantwich and Macclesfield have all been ordered to close their doors for three months.
Warrington Shops Closed
Between June 29 and July 3, various applications for closure orders were made for premises across Cheshire. Three shops in Warrington were shut down: Mr Blue and Stop and Shop on Sankey Street, and the Mini Shop on Buttermarket Street. This action was taken due to repeated failures during joint police, Trading Standards and Immigration compliance visits, as well as reports that the shops were a source of anti-social behaviour in the town centre. Large quantities of illicit cigarettes, tobacco and vape products were also seized during the closures by police officers, assisted by Warrington Trading Standards and Immigration officers.
Crewe and Nantwich Closures
Four shops were closed in Crewe and Nantwich: Top Gee, Liam Grocery Store and the Bob Shop on Nantwich Road, and Friendly Mart on High Street. Closure orders were granted for a period of three months due to evidence of anti-social behaviour and failure to adhere to age limit restrictions when selling items.
Macclesfield Shop Closed
Finally, Mini Mart on Mill Street, Macclesfield, was also closed due to underage vape sales, illicit tobacco sales and anti-social behaviour.
Police and Council Statements
Chief Superintendent Saf Ali, of Cheshire Police, said: “This is a great example of the action we will take on retailers who repeatedly offend, and I hope this sends a clear message that illegal tobacco and vape products have no place in Cheshire’s shops. Working alongside our partners, we gathered evidence against these premises and the closure orders are now in place for three months after being granted by the courts. We will continue to tackle anti-social behaviour and the supply of illicit products to keep residents across Cheshire safe.”
Councillor Dawn Clark, Cheshire East Council cabinet member for finance, legal and enforcement, said: “These raids and closure orders send out a clear message that we are an enforcing council and we will continue to tackle head on the scourge of illicit tobacco and vapes – as well as underage tobacco sales – working effectively with our partners. Anti-social and unlawful outlets in Cheshire East should know that we will not stand by and watch while they act illegally. The sale of illicit tobacco and vapes has proven links to organised crime and the sale of these products is known to contribute to human trafficking and other criminality. Illicit tobacco also undermines efforts of our health teams and NHS partners to reduce the number of people smoking and encourages children to take up smoking, which negatively impacts their long-term health. I would urge people to report the sale of illegal tobacco and single-use vapes in Cheshire East by calling the Citizens Advice Consumer Service on 0808 2231133 or start a Live Chat on our website.”
Councillor John Kerr-Brown, Warrington Borough Council cabinet member for housing services and licensing, said: “The sale of illicit tobacco and vape products puts people’s health at risk and makes these products more accessible to children and young people. Working closely with Cheshire Police, Trading Standards and other partner agencies, we are committed to making Warrington town centre a safe and welcoming place for residents, visitors and businesses. We will continue to take robust action against those who break the law and contribute to anti-social behaviour in our borough.”
