Skip to content
Search
AI Powered
Human content, AI powered search.
Latest Stories

Welling c-store closed permanently over continuous sale of illegal tobacco products

Welling c-store closed permanently over continuous sale of illegal tobacco products
iStock image
Getty Images/iStockphoto
Pooja Shrivastava
By Pooja ShrivastavaAug 02, 2022
Pooja Shrivastava
See Full Bio

A shop in Welling has been permanently closed by Bexley Council over sales of illegal cigarettes and tobacco products.

Bellegrove Convenience store in Bellegrove Road was found selling products which were not packaged or produced for legal sale in the UK. Bexley Trading Standards employed covert surveillance during the investigation for test purchasing and product seizures, Yahoo News reported on Monday (1).

This then proved continual and organised breaches of the commercial tenancy, according to Bexley Council.

A spokesperson for Bexley Council said the shop had been the subject of many enforcement actions over many years. The council used the Proceeds of Crime procedures to put an end to trading at the shop.

The closure follows a similar shop closure in September 2021 for selling illicit tobacco in Erith. 3,147 packets of cigarettes and 42 kilograms of hand-rolling tobacco estimated to be worth £32,000 was seized from the Erith shop.

Councillor Peter Craske, Bexley’s cabinet member for places, said, “Illicit tobacco not only harms our efforts to reduce smoking in the borough but also presents a serious fire risk to Bexley residents.

“Our Officers often find that long-established independent newsagents also suffer a drop in trade when the criminals move into small retail units nearby.

“This successful closure will make a sizable dent in the cash profits of these determined and organised criminals.

“We are determined to continue working closely with the Police and commercial landlords to track down and permanently stop the selling of smuggled and unsafe products under the counter.”

"The Council’s Trading Standards team has permanently closed Bellegrove Convenience Store at 98 Bellegrove Road, Welling, for selling illegal cigarettes and tobacco products," a spokesperson for Bexley Council said.

"The products are not produced or packaged for legal sale in the UK and when tested are likely to fail UK safety regulations that require cigarettes to self-extinguish to prevent house fires."

Related News

Food and drink giants under pressure to act on public health
Editorial

Food and drink giants under pressure to act on public health

Freight crime cost over £680 million
Industry News

Freight crime cost over £680 million

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