Two Wirral shops shut down as police say 'we will not tolerate this'
Two Wirral shops have been shut down following allegations of criminal behaviour and concerns over potential anti-social activity.
Three-month closure orders have been imposed on Wallasey Market and UK Mini Market, located on Liscard Village and Borough Road in Wallasey respectively. The orders were issued under the Anti-Social Behaviour, Crime and Policing Act 2014.
Wirral Council said five enforcement visits were carried out in recent months by officers from Wirral Trading Standards and Merseyside Police.
At Wallasey Market, 560 illegal e-cigarettes, 220 illegal e-cigarette refill cartridges, 1kg of illegal hand-rolling tobacco and 80 illegal cigarettes were seized, while 27,320 cigarettes, 5.95kg of hand-rolling tobacco and 51 single-use e-cigarettes were seized at UK Mini Market.
The estimated illicit retail value of goods recovered from UK Mini Market is approximately £9,125, based on typical black-market prices. If sold at genuine retail prices, the goods would have been worth around £25,845. Additionally, five arrests have been made at the UK Mini Market address in recent months.
The closure orders were sought following repeated enforcement activity and intelligence reports indicating ongoing criminal behaviour at the premises. Wirral Council said these actions form part of a wider strategy to tackle the sale of illegal tobacco and vaping products, which pose “significant health risks and undermine legitimate businesses”.
In a witness statement provided to South Sefton Magistrates Court at the hearing this week, Wirral’s Director of Public Health, Dave Bradburn, said: “A significant risk that undermines tobacco control measures is the illicit tobacco trade and underage sales of tobacco.
“As illicit tobacco products are sold at significantly lower prices, often less than half the price of legitimate products, consequently are more affordable for children.
“There is no doubt that businesses in Wirral that engage in practices such as the sale of illicit and counterfeit tobacco and vape products, or facilitate underage sales, pose a significant health risk to communities in which they operate.
“Often illicit tobacco and vape products that have not been tested and are unlicensed pose a risk to the health of anyone who uses them as their contents are unknown. These activities represent a public health threat and nuisance, fundamentally undermining tobacco control strategies and smoking cessation interventions.”
Wirral Council Neighbourhood Inspector Sharon Robinson added: “When we receive intelligence about illegal goods, we work with the councils and Trading Standards to investigate and take robust enforcement action.
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“Those involved in selling counterfeit goods are not just committing fraud they are often feeding organised crime networks that thrive on exploitation and violence. These criminal enterprises use profits from illicit tobacco and fake products to fund activities that tear communities apart, bringing intimidation, harm, and fear to our streets.
“We will not tolerate this. If you know anyone involved in selling illicit tobacco or counterfeit goods, speak up. Every report helps us dismantle these networks and protect our communities from serious crime.”
Anyone that knows of any stores involved is asked to contact Merseyside Police social media desk via X @MerPolCC or Facebook Merseyside Police CC. You can also call or contact the independent charity Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.