A shop has been ordered to close after it was caught selling illicit vapes, cigarettes and tobacco to the public.
Carls Newsagent, based on Vauxhall Road in Liverpool was also caught attempting to sell a vape to an underage person who visited the premises as part of a trading standards exercise.
Working with Merseyside Police, Liverpool City Council’s Public Protection team started to investigate the newsagents after suspecting that they were trading illegally.
Two separate inspections by the teams found unregulated vapes and cigarettes hidden under the floor and in the till. The products, which were seized by officers, had an approximate market value of £2,500.
Now, the shop has been told that they must close for two months by Sefton Magistrates Court for breaching trading regulations.
The closure order continues the Council’s Public Protection team’s work, which saw almost 150,000 illicit vapes and cigarettes seized from businesses, with a combined value of £415,000 in the last financial year.
“Regulations around the sale of vapes and cigarettes are implemented for a reason, and we will always investigate businesses that flout these rules,” Cllr Laura Robertson-Collins, cabinet member for communities, neighbourhoods and streetscene at Liverpool City Council, said.
“Vapes and cigarettes that do not meet the legal requirements could pose a dangerous health risk to users and our teams are committed to ensuring they do not end up in the hands of the public.
“The closure of this newsagent serves as a reminder that there are consequences, especially when selling to underage people is concerned.
“Vapes can be helpful when it comes to stopping smoking, but they should always be sourced from a reputable trader.”
Liverpool City Centre Neighbourhood Inspector Jack Woodward said: “This partnership work has seen action taken against a shop which persistently continued to trade illicit goods.
“We will continue to work closely with Liverpool City Council and other organisations in tackling such offenders, as well as the wider issues of anti-social behaviour and crime in the city centre.”
