Two stores in Spalding, Lincolnshire, have been ordered to close again, weeks after previous orders expired for selling illegal vape and tobacco products.
Following a planned operation targeting individuals selling counterfeit items and posing a risk to local communities, Stop N Shop store and Nida store on Winsover Road were reissued with three-month closure orders, effective until midnight on 16 January 2025.
The orders prohibit anyone from remaining on or entering the properties, with a few exceptions to allow maintenance.
Andy Wright principal trading standards officer said these shops have only been open a matter of weeks after previous closure orders expired: ”The most recent Closure Orders are for the exact same reason, the sale of illegal cigarettes and vapes. The number of Closure Orders issued in and around Spalding shows that the sale of illegal goods is not incidental to these businesses. Without the sale of illegal goods the businesses are not viable, they rely on criminal activity for their main source of income. Clearly this has a detrimental effect on legitimate businesses who cannot compete on equal terms, pushing many out of business.”
Anyone violating the orders could face up to 51 weeks in prison, a fine, or both, said Lincolnshire Police.
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