A store in Droyldsen, Manchester, has been shut down to “protect the public” following a series of licensing breaches including illegal vapes and tobacco.
Amsterdam Off-Licence at 77 Market Street was given a closure order by the courts last week after a successful enforcement application by Tameside Council.
Stockport Magistrates Court issued the store with a three months closure order to “prevent future disorder or serious nuisance”.
The premises had been found to be consistently non-compliant in relation to various licensing, waste management and Trading Standards matters, and other criminality. It had been subject to two premises licence reviews.
In December 2022, a compliance visit was carried out after a pile of bags belonging to the premises was found outside. Officers found a car at the rear of the premises that was being used to store illicit tobacco and drugs. The licence was subsequently reviewed and the business’s licence was suspended for three months with conditions attached.
New owners continued to operate the business in a non-compliant manner and sell illegal vapes and tobacco. Trading Standards made several seizures and in September 2023 a car was again found parked at the rear of the shop containing a large quantity of illegal goods. In December 2023, the business’s licence was revoked.
The ownership changed hands once more in February 2024, and a new license application was submitted in July but was rejected. Despite the refusal, the store continued to sell alcohol, illicit tobacco and vapes.
On serving the closure notice on 17 October, council officers seized more illicit tobacco, including 2,500 cigarettes and 30 pouches of tobacco.
Investigations are continuing with regards to other matters concerning the premises, said Tameside Council.
Craig Foley Tameside’s police licensing officer who worked in partnership with Tameside Council’s Licensing Team to obtain the closure order, said: “The partnership approach, along with our communities’ input through reporting and understanding, hopefully highlights we are all committed to continue tackling this kind of disruptive behaviour that has a criminal element to it.”
A Tameside Council spokesperson commented: “These premises have persistently broken laws and continued to sell alcohol despite no longer having a licence, as well as selling illicit tobacco and illegal vapes. We won’t hesitate to take action against traders who are operating illegally or breaching licensing conditions, in order to protect our residents and prevent harm to the community. This case again shows the importance of the Council’s Our Streets campaign in tackling concerns and helping improve our communities.”
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