Ilfracombe shop shut down for three months after selling illegal tobacco
City Market in Ilfracombe has been hit with a closure order after being caught selling counterfeit cigarettes
An Ilfracombe shop has been ordered to close for three months after authorities proved it was selling illegal tobacco on the premises.
City Market at 31 High Street was given a three-month closure order at Barnstaple Magistrates’ Court on Tuesday, October 27.
Heart of the South West Trading Standards had received reports about the sale of counterfeit products from the premises and carried out test purchases to investigate.
Trading Standards officers attended the shop with Devon and Cornwall Police in May. During the visit, officers confirmed that bank notes used to buy 10 packets of 20 counterfeit cigarettes during a test purchase were present in the shop’s cash register.
PC Peter Hyde, neighbourhood beat manager for Ilfracombe and Braunton Police, said: “I welcome the court's decision to grant a closure order for City Market.
“This is a positive outcome for the local community and a proportionate response to ongoing concerns regarding the sale of illegal tobacco and vaping products. The order will help prevent further unlawful trading, protect the public from associated health risks, and disrupt criminal activity that has had a detrimental impact on our community.”
Trading Standards operations manager Alex Fry added: “Combatting the supply of illegal tobacco and vapes is a high priority for us.
“These products are often sold more cheaply and those selling them are unlikely to care who they sell them to, making them more accessible to children.
“By stopping the sale of illegal tobacco and vapes, we are helping to protect our communities as well as businesses that trade legally.”