A convenience store in Reading town centre in Berkshire is in trouble as police have accused the store management of hiring illegal workers and selling stolen goods.
Drinks 4 U, trading as Maan Food & Wine, is a small kiosk in Market Place next to Greggs and the Romans estate agents that sells drinks, snacks and vapes. It currently has a licence to sell alcohol for consumption off the premises from 8am to 11pm each day.
PC Declan Smyth from Thames Valley Police has submitted an application to Reading Borough Council for the store’s alcohol sales licence to be reviewed.
The application for review states, “Thames Valley Police submit this application for review in order to address the failure of the premises licence holder to promote the four licensing objectives via their insufficient measures to ensure due diligence and promote the licensing objectives.”
He then accused the business owner of hiring illegal workers and the premises licence holder of purchasing stolen goods.
A statutory consultation into the review is currently live.
Elsewhere in Middlesbrough, a convenience shop has been shut down for three months after it was caught selling illegal tobacco .
The temporary closure follows an investigation by trading standards - prompted by complaints from members of the public. It led to a test purchasing operation by trading standards officers at Airo Mini Market on Acklam Road, which resulted in "multiple sales" of illicit products.
Teesside Magistrates granted a closure order after an application from Middlesbrough Council.
Judith Hedgley, the council’s head of Public Protection, said: “Illicit tobacco contributes to health inequalities and brings crime into our neighbourhoods.
“Seeking a closure order removes another avenue for selling illegal cigarettes and other tobacco related products including to children and young people. Our trading standards officers will continue to utilise all enforcement tools at their disposal to disrupt the illicit tobacco trade.”
Councillor Janet Thompson, the council’s executive member for Neighbourhoods, said: “The council and its crime reduction partners will not tolerate the sale of illicit tobacco and we take a robust approach to stamping the trade out.
"The council will continue to take stringent action to protect the health of our residents and ensure only legitimate businesses can thrive.
Elsewhere in Pembrokeshire, two vape shops have been forced to close after raids uncovered illegal tobacco, vapes and cash.
Earlier this spring specialist regional trading standards officers, Pembrokeshire County Council’s trading standards team and Dyfed-Powys Police targeted the two shops in Haverfordwest and Milford Haven.
They uncovered illegal tobacco, vapes and cash from two cars, used for concealing supplies to top up stock available in the stores, a large quantity of cash suspected to be from criminal activity was seized and one vehicle impounded by the police, for having no tax or insurance
