Council succeeds in shutting down two premises selling and storing counterfeit tobacco and illegal vapes

Two shops in Aylesbury that were used to sell counterfeit cigarettes and tobacco and illegal vapes have been forced to temporarily close their doors following action taken by Buckinghamshire & Surrey Trading Standards service.

Vape Shop, at 34 High Street and Euro Store, at 21 Buckingham Street, have been ordered to shut for a period of three months each, following closure orders being granted by magistrates at High Wycombe Magistrates’ Court on Wednesday 17 July.

The closure orders were sought under the Anti-Social Behaviour, Crime and Policing Act 2014 following a period of investigation carried out by Buckinghamshire & Surrey Trading Standards.

Concerns had been raised regarding the sale and storage of large quantities of smuggled and counterfeit cigarettes, hand rolling tobacco and illegal vapes. Both of the premises had constructed sophisticated purpose-made compartments to conceal the illegal goods from inspections carried out by enforcement officers.

In applying for the closure orders to be granted, the council presented evidence of the multiple seizures of goods that had taken place at both premises. It was argued that the persistent use of the premises for the sale of counterfeit tobacco and illegal vapes caused a nuisance to members of the public for a number of reasons:

• The potential health risks to members of the public from smoking these particular products.
• The lack of controls over underage sales with the additional health risks to young people.
• Undermining of legitimate businesses nearby with the risk that others will turn to crime.
• Undermining legislation to kerb the demand for these produces and the health warnings associated with them.

Mark Winn, Buckinghamshire Council’s Cabinet Member for Homelessness and Regulatory Services said: “This a fantastic result for the council and for the residents of Buckinghamshire. Counterfeit goods like these are a menace to our society. They can be extremely dangerous to anyone who comes into contact with them and the people who sell them appear to have no scruples about who they sell them to or the damage they can do. Equally they have no regard for the impact their illegal activity has on legitimate local businesses trying to make an honest living. Hopefully this will be a warning to those who break the law in this way, we will continue to investigate all cases of this nature to get these dangerous goods off our streets.”