Skip to content
Search
AI Powered
Latest Stories

Shop shut down over ‘ongoing criminality’ loses licence

Shop shut down over ‘ongoing criminality’ loses licence
Grab & Go store on Lawrence Road, Wavertree in Liverpool (Photo: Google Street View)

By: David Humphreys, Local Democracy Reporter

A convenience store in Wavertree shut down over selling thousands of illegal cigarettes has been slapped with further sanctions by Liverpool Council. Grab & Go on Lawrence Road was made the subject of a closure order by the local authority in July as a result of “ongoing criminality.”


Following a review by the city’s licensing and gambling sub-committee, its licence to trade items like cigarettes and alcohol has now been revoked. The shop was before the courts earlier this summer as part of Liverpool Council’s ongoing clampdown over illicit sales.

The committee was given a representation by Daniel Blowes from the council’s trading standards team. It said: “Grab & Go have been subject to a 3 month closure order following ongoing criminality at the premises, with them continuing to sell illicit counterfeit/smuggled non-duty paid cigarettes, tobacco and vapes.”

Mr Blowes said how over the course of the last two years, counterfeit and smuggled goods worth almost £4,000 had been seized from the store. This included 5,100 cigarettes, 54 pouches of tobacco and 180 vapes, some of which were hidden in boxes on top of fridges which required access via a ladder.

The officer wrote: “The premises continued to sell illicit products, despite being advised and warned to stop selling these and being offered guidance and advice by our team. The premises received two written warning letters, along with several verbal warnings following each seizure at the premises.”

A series of undercover test purchases were made by officers, four for cigarettes and two for vapes. Latest figures indicate more than 30,200 vapes valued at £362,736 have been collected by authorities.

Earlier this summer, the Local Democracy Reporting Service joined the alcohol and tobacco unit as locations in Allerton and Garston were closed down. Three individuals were also sentenced at Liverpool Magistrates Court in August for selling vapes to teenagers, including products such as a watermelon Elf Bar pen.

As a result of the closure order secured in July, Grab & Go must not open its doors until at least October. After this point, licence holder Sanhan Ismail Mahmood will not be able to sell licensable goods, such as alcohol or cigarettes, subject to an appeal period.

(Local Democracy Reporting Service)

More for you

Volumatic welcomes new FCA rules safeguarding access to cash

Volumatic welcomes new FCA rules safeguarding access to cash

As industry leaders is cash handling, Volumatic has long supported the use of cash and the importance of maintaining access to cash for both consumers and businesses. The company recognises the importance of the new set of rules created by the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) two months ago, to safeguard access to cash for businesses and consumers across the UK.

Since introduction, the new rules are intended to ensure that individuals and businesses who rely on cash can continue to access it and the outcome has already sparked the creation of 15 new banking hubs across the UK, including one in Scotland, with many more to follow.

Keep ReadingShow less
Jisp unveils new NPD service

Jisp unveils new NPD service

Retail technology company Jisp has launched an NPD service as part of its new Direct to Retailer business unit.

The new NPD service will allow brands to launch or trial new products in a guaranteed number of convenience store locations, with on the ground review of execution by Jisp’s retail growth manager team, and performance data and insights deliverable through its scanning technology and back-office systems.

Keep ReadingShow less
Tesco launches price cuts in Express convenience stores
File image of Tesco Express

Tesco launches price cuts in Express convenience stores

Tesco is slashing the price of more than 222 own-brand and branded products in its Express convenience stores.

Essentials including milk, bread, pasta and coffee are included in the lines which have been reduced in price by an average of more than 10 per cent at Tesco Express stores. The retail giant has made more than 2,800 price cuts across stores in recent months. With 2,048 of convenience stores at the end of the 2023-24 financial year, Tesco aims to benefit hundreds of thousands of customers from the cheaper deals.

Keep ReadingShow less
vape and cigarette
Photo: iStock

One in five ex-smokers in England now vape, study finds


Summary
1. One in five people who have successfully quit smoking in England currently vape, with an estimated 2.2 million individuals using e-cigarettes as a smoking cessation tool.
2. The increase in vaping among ex-smokers is largely driven by the use of e-cigarettes in quit attempts, with a rise in vaping uptake among people who had previously quit smoking for many years before taking up vaping.
3. While vaping may be a less harmful option compared to smoking, there are concerns about the potential long-term implications of vaping on relapse risk and nicotine addiction. Further research is needed to assess the impact of vaping on smoking cessation outcomes.


Keep ReadingShow less
Bira engages with Treasury on Budget fallout, business rate reform
(Photo by Christopher Furlong/Getty Images)
Getty Images

Bira engages with Treasury on Budget fallout, business rate reform

Independent retailers association Bira has held a meeting with members of the Treasury team to discuss concerns following its robust response to the Government’s recent Budget announcement.

The Budget, labelled by Bira as "devastating" for independent retailers, was met with widespread indignation from Bira members.

Keep ReadingShow less