'A brilliant result' - Three shops in Lincolnshire ordered to close after being caught selling illegal tobacco products

Lincoln Magistrates’ Court issued the trio of three-month closure orders – the maximum period currently allowed by law – on Wednesday (September 9), Lincolnshire County Council has said.

They cover:

• Easy Shop & Vape Shop, in Lumley Road, Skegness, where illegal cigarettes were concealed behind a tile wall.
• 28 Aswell Street, Louth, where a lock on a door had to be cut out to find illegal cigarettes stored behind it.
• PoundPlus, in West Street, Boston, where shopping bags full of illegal cigarettes were strewn across a back-room floor.

The items were seized during raids following intelligence received from members of the public, the council said.

Landlords are now being urged to use caution when selecting tenants.

However, at 28 Aswell Street, Louth, the property had been occupied without the permission of the owner, the council said. The rogue traders operating it were previously connected to 52 Upgate, just a three-minute walk away, which received its own closure order two months ago, the authority said.

The latest closure orders are part of an enforcement programme by Lincolnshire Trading Standards and Lincolnshire Police to crackdown on the sale of illegal cigarettes and protect local communities.

In total, 147 closure orders have been served for illegal tobacco related offences in Lincolnshire since January 2024.

Coun Alex McGonigle, executive councillor for community safety, said: “This is a brilliant result that will immediately disrupt the sale of illegal tobacco in these communities.

“It’s important to remember that the illegal tobacco trade is not a victimless crime; in Lincolnshire we’ve seen lives devastated and homes gutted by illegal cigarettes that did not properly extinguish.

“Add in the links these shops have to other serious criminal activity, and their detrimental impact on law-abiding businesses, and it becomes clear just how damaging these products really are.

“These closure orders send a clear message: if you choose to sell illegal products and put profit before people’s safety, we will act and we will shut your premises down.”

Since April 1, 490,360 illegal cigarettes, 6,450 50g packs of hand-rolling tobacco and 811 disposable vapes have been seized across the county.

Neighbourhood Policing Inspector Jacky Evans said: “Our relentless focus on tackling crime and preventing harm on our high streets is delivering real results.

“These closure orders are a testament to the strength of partnership working between local authorities, communities, and other agencies. They also demonstrate our Lincs 2030 transformation programme in action, taking a proactive approach toward crime prevention and empowering communities to play an active role in keeping people safe.

“We continue to encourage members of the public to share their concerns and information with us, as this helps ensure our resources are targeted where they are needed most.

“While the results of this work may not always be immediately visible, a significant amount of activity is taking place behind the scenes every day. Information provided by the public is invaluable in helping us identify issues, take action and make a lasting difference in our communities.”

Residents can reporting instances of illegal tobacco sales or associated criminality via Crimestoppers, anonymously, on 0800 555 111, or at https://crimestoppers-uk.org/give-information