A Lancaster city centre shop has been ordered to close for three months for the second time after the sale of illicit tobacco products.
City Mini Market on Penny Street was served with a three-month Closure Order yesterday (June 2) at Burnley Magistrates Court.
Lancashire Constabulary made the application under anti-social behaviour legislation designed to tackle public nuisance following a series of visits by Lancashire County Council's Trading Standards officers.
A three-month Closure Order was previously granted for the same shop in January 2025, which is the maximum period of time available under the legislation. That time, it was for the sale of illicit tobacco and vaping products and illegally selling a vape to a child during test operations.
Councillor Joshua Roberts, cabinet member for Rural Affairs, Environment and Communities, said: "This is a great result and an excellent example of successful partnership working.
‘’Our Trading Standards service works closely with Lancashire Constabulary to combat anti-social behaviour and criminality on our high streets. We will keep working with the police to make sure that our communities are safe and to show that this use of premises will not be tolerated.
"Our Trading Standards team will always take the strongest action possible against those who openly break the law. We encourage anyone who has concerns about the sale of any age-restricted products to report these to Trading Standards via the Citizens Advice Consumer Service helpline on 0808 223 1133."
PC Sian Seddon, Lancaster Neighbourhood Officer, said: “We will always work closely with partners to address concerns reported to us, and this closure order is evidence of this.
‘’Working closely with Trading Standards over a number of months, the Lancaster Neighbourhood Team have been able to build a case against this store and successfully achieve a closure of three months.
“It is a great example of the type of work our Neighbourhood Policing Team is carrying out behind the scenes to keep our community safe. We would like this to be a message to other businesses in the area, that we will not tolerate businesses operating illegally.
“We appreciate that this is only one concern that the local community have, and we will continue to work hard to address issues and concerns you raise. I would encourage members of the public to keep reporting concerns to us on 101, and to Trading Standards. You can also share concerns via In the Know.”
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