Solihull Council was granted a closure order by Birmingham Magistrates Court yesterday (Monday 25 November) on Boss Mart 2, 53 Warwick Road, Olton after the business sold illegal tobacco and vapes. The business and owner were also ordered to pay costs of £2,250 in total.
The closure order was granted under the Anti-Social Behaviour, Crime, and Policing Act 2014. It follows several operations that were carried out by staff at Solihull Council’s Regulatory Services Team in response to a complaint earlier in the year. The team seized 1,085 illegal disposable vapes, 120 packets of illegal tobacco and 13 packs of illegal hand rolling tobacco on 18 January 2024. At a second inspection on 16 April 2024, they also seized 1,624 illegal disposable vapes, 125 packets of illegal tobacco, 13 packs of hand rolling tobacco and 32 packets of Naswar, a type of oral tobacco which is illegal in the UK. The team then carried out two further test operations during which the shop sold a vape to a child on 30 July 2024 and an illegal tobacco product on 2 October 2024.
The closure order prohibits anyone, with the exception of those named on the order – the landlord, the landlord’s contractors, or the Emergency Services - from remaining in, returning to, or entering the premises till 9 January 2025. Anyone that breaches the order commits an offence and can be arrested. If found guilty of an offence they are liable to imprisonment and/or a fine.
Solihull Council’s Cabinet Member for Communities, Cllr Wazma Qais, said: “Selling vapes to children poses a serious health risk to our children and young people and illegal cigarettes and vapes sold at low prices can also make the products attractive to children and encourage smoking and vaping at an early age. Not only that but many of the seized vapes contain much more nicotine.
“Illegal tobacco products usually contain high levels of tar and nicotine, as well as other unknown and unregulated substances. It is therefore right and proper that businesses that ignore the law and sell these dangerous and illegal products face the consequences.
“I would like to thank the Council’s Regulatory Services Team for their continued work to ensure businesses operating in Solihull comply with their legal obligations, and for following up this complaint successfully. The resident’s complaint, which came to us via the police, and the team’s actions have ensured that these harmful products will not be sold.
“If you have any trading standards concerns, please report them to Citizens Advice."
Residents who are concerned about a business selling illegal and dangerous products can report them to Citizens Advice on 0808 223 1133 or visit Citizens Advice who will then forward the complaint to the right Council team.