TWO SHOPS in Evesham have been handed three-month closure orders after they were repeatedly found selling illegal cigarettes, tobacco and vapes with a retail value of more than £269,000.
International Mini Market and Super Mini Market, both in Port Street, were ordered to close at Kidderminster Magistrates’ Court under Section 80 of the Anti‑Social Behaviour, Crime and Policing Act 2014. Both businesses had already been given temporary 48-hour closure notices by council officers on Monday.
The action was brought by Worcestershire Regulatory Services, acting on behalf of Wychavon District Council. It followed an extensive investigation by Worcestershire County Council Trading Standards officers. They were supported by the Evesham Police Safer Neighbourhood Team.
Over a two-year period, officers carried out 16 raids seizing more than 10,300 packs of cigarettes, more than 1,800 packets of hand-rolled tobacco and 3,119 non-compliant vapes from both stores collectively.
Both stores were also caught selling a vape to an underage person during test purchase operations.
The three-month closure order can be extended by up to three months if it is believed there is a risk criminal activity may begin again. A review of the premises licence for both stores will also be carried out which may remove their ability to sell alcohol and tobacco, should they choose to reopen in the future.
Closure-orders are used to stop persistent criminal activity, serious nuisance or disorder when other enforcement options have failed.
Worcestershire Regulatory Services have completed seven total Closure Orders across the county in the last 18 months. These included shops in Bromsgrove and Redditch and two further ones were sought in Wyre Forest.
Coun Rick Deller, Wychavon’s Executive Board Member for Housing, Regulatory and Customer Services, said it was great partnership work.
“It highlights that illegal activity has no place on our high streets, and that we are focused on creating spaces where legitimate businesses can thrive in an honest trading environment, supplying legitimate goods to residents.”
Simon Wilkes, Head of Worcestershire Trading Standards, added it showed officers’ determination to clamp down on illegal tobacco and non-compliant vape products.
“Law-abiding businesses often tell us they can lose up to £1,000 a week in sales when this sort of illegal activity is operating in the area.
“We cannot allow organised crime to thrive on our High Streets and we thank our district colleagues for supporting the work of the team. “
Safer Neighbourhood Inspector for Evesham, Dave Wise, said: “We recognise the frustration felt by communities when premises continue to trade illegally despite joint efforts to raid stores, seize counterfeit goods and disrupt those responsible.
“These three-month closure orders, secured by Trading Standards with support from West Mercia Police, are an important step in delivering a lasting solution. Businesses operating illegally undercut genuine traders, undermine public health, and are often linked to wider organised criminality.
“Illegal trading will not be tolerated.”
