Around £2,500 worth of items were seized in a joint operation
The illegal cigarettes were hidden in the shop’s till
A Liverpool shop has been shut down after concealing illicit cigarettes and vapes in the till and selling products to children. Carls Newsagent on Vauxhall Road has been slapped with a closure order following a joint investigation by Merseyside Police and Liverpool Council’s public protection team.
Following two inspections by officers, a number of unregulated items were found stowed away in the shop. Around £2,500 worth of vapes, illicit tobacco and cigarettes were seized.
The closure order comes just days after a nationwide ban was implemented outlawing the sale of disposable vapes. Sefton Magistrates Court has handed down a closure order of two months for the breach of regulations.
An investigation was launched into the business following intelligence indicating it was operating 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. Unregulated vapes and cigarettes could contain banned ingredients and may pose a serious health risk to anyone using them.
Rules around the sale of vapes are set out in the Tobacco and Related Products Regulations 2016.
The requirements restrict e-cigarette tanks to a capacity of no more than 2ml, around 600 puffs, while the maximum volume of nicotine-containing e-liquid for sale in one refill container is restricted to 10ml.
Additionally, e-liquids are restricted to a nicotine strength of no more than 20mg/ml. The closure order continues the 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.
Cllr Laura Robertson-Collins, cabinet member for communities, neighbourhoods and streetscene said: “Regulations around the sale of vapes and cigarettes are implemented for a reason, and we will always investigate businesses that flout these rules.
“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.”
Inspector Jack Woodward, of the Liverpool city centre neighbourhood team, 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 Council and other organisations in tackling such offenders, as well as the wider issues of anti-social behaviour and crime in the city centre.
“If you have any information or concerns, contact us and we will take action.”