Five shops on same street shut over illegal tobacco sale
FIVE shops have been closed down on a single high street in the Black Country for selling illegal tobacco.
Eazy Shop, Day 2 Day, Istanbul, Polo Mini Market and ASA Mini Market, all located on Brierley Hill’s High Street, have been ordered to shut up shop for a minimum of three months, following a landmark case, successfully brought to court by Dudley Trading Standards.
The closure orders were granted to put a stop to the illegal activity.
It was the first case of its kind in the country where a local authority used its powers to take five premises to court at the same time.
Dudley Council used its civil powers under the Anti-Social Behaviour, Crime and Policing Act 2014 to close the premises, which were causing “nuisance and disorder” after spending months investigating reports of suspicious activity to build evidence against the shops for dealing in illegal tobacco. On November 18, trading standards officers, with the support of the police, visited all five properties to serve a 24-hour closure notice.
The following day, the closure notices were extended until the outcome of the court hearing.
Dudley Magistrates’ Court ordered all five shops to close for a minimum of three months.
Following the hearing, Deborah Harkins, Dudley’s director responsible for trading standards, said: “We are really pleased with the result from court.
“This is a ground-breaking case, which has seen our trading standards officers work extensively to build up a bank of evidence against these five shops, which have continued to flout the law and sell illegal products on the High Street.
“Not only are these products even more harmful to people’s health, these rogue premises are failing to pay their taxes, which is unfair on those trading legitimately in the town. We’ll now be working with the landlords of all five properties to ensure they let their premises to reputable, legitimate people in the future.
“As an authority we remain committed to regenerating Brierley Hill High Street and supporting those traders who are working hard to earn an honest living.
“We recently secured millions of pounds of investment through Future High Street Funds which will support our ambitions to breathe new life into the town.”