Matadar News and Souvenirs in Piccadilly, Manchester, has been ordered to close by Manchester and Salford Magistrates Court after being linked to the sale of vapes to children.
Manchester City Council submitted an application for a Closure Order after investigations by the council and Greater Manchester Police into the alleged sale of illegal vapes and nicotine products to children.
On 27 August, a significant number of illicit products were removed from the store by Council officers, including 1,642 vapes, 146 cigarettes and a number of suspected counterfeit items.
Inspector Kam Hare, from GMP’s City Centre Neighbourhood Policing Team, said: “The illegal supply of vapes continues to be a top priority for us in Manchester.
“Through our many interactions with young people in the city centre, many are regularly in possession of non-compliant vapes, and the sale of nicotine products to children is completely unacceptable.
“Closing premises which sell illicit vapes is a great step towards ensuring the safety of our most vulnerable and we are committed to working closely with our partners at the Council to do all we can to safeguard young people.”
Councillor Garry Bridges, Deputy Leader of Manchester City Council said: “The sale of illegal vapes or tobacco products is not an underground trade, as we have seen with this case – these items can be found next to one of the busiest public spaces in Manchester.”
Trading standards officers were initially refused entry to a locked room to the rear of the shop. It took the discovery of a four-digit code by accompanying GMP officers to gain entry where eventually, a large number of illegal vapes were found.
Officers were subjected to verbal abuse by a male staff member when carrying out their work.
During an inspection in November 2022, Trading Standards seized 679 non-compliant vapes.
In the same year nicotine products were sold to a 14-year-old who entered the store to carry out a test purchase.
The shop will be forced to remain closed for eight weeks following the hearing in 10 December.
Featured image: Manchester City Council
