Kirton store is eighth in Lincolnshire this year to have alcohol licence revoked

International Food and Drink, in Boston Road, Kirton, had its Alcohol Premises Licence revoked by Boston Borough Council yesterday (Thursday).

The Alcohol Licensing Team from Lincolnshire Police submitted paperwork for a Licence Review Hearing, following a raid on the premises in which contraband cigarettes and alcohol were seized.

At the Council Licensing Sub-Committee hearing yesterday, the panel agreed with the police that the premises had been actively involved in the illegal sale of smuggled products.

Because of this they believed they were failing to promote the licensing objectives and their licence was revoked.

The panel heard that an undercover test purchase operation was conducted in March when a police volunteer entered the store and was able to purchase a packet of foreign-labelled contraband cigarettes.

The store was then raided a week later and more cigarettes discovered. They were located both inside the store and hidden in a van parked at the rear of the store. During the search police officers discovered bottles of vodka which also proved to be smuggled goods.

Sergeant Kim Enderby from the Alcohol Licensing Team said: “This was an intelligence-led operation from the beginning and shows how much we rely on members of the local community passing us this type of information, so we can then do something about it.

“Following the initial test purchase we raided the store and seized 1,700 illegal cigarettes and a quantity of smuggled vodka. On top of this we also found that the store was breaching many of the conditions of their alcohol licence on a daily basis.

“This is the eighth licence to be revoked in the county this year, sending a clear message that criminal behaviour of any type will not be tolerated. “I would again encourage members of the public who are aware of activity of this type to tell us where and when this criminal activity is taking place.

“We remain committed to the disruption, investigation and prosecution of all criminal behaviour being conducted on our licensed premises.”

There is a 21 day appeal process; if no appeal is submitted then the revocation comes into action.