Two town centre businesses have been closed by Bedford Borough Council’s Trading Standards team for supplying and distributing illegal tobacco.
Frozen Food Plus in Midland Road and Bedford International Express, as well as the adjoining vacant unit on Greyfriars, were served with two-month Closure Orders on 5 August following a joint operation with Bedfordshire Police. Luton Magistrates’ Court granted the Orders the following day.
Closure Orders prohibit any trading at the premises for their duration, and restrict anyone from entering without prior permission from the authorities. Breaching an Order is a criminal offence, carrying potential penalties of a fine and/or imprisonment for up to 51 weeks.
The Orders could be extended for a further three months should illegal activity continue or is likely to continue upon reopening.
Magistrates heard that the Council had compelling evidence that a group was trading at various premises in Bedford town centre and the wider region, and were actively involved in the supply and distribution of illegal tobacco.
Council officers added that, if the vacant unit on Greyfriars was not also served a Closure Order, the group could potentially open it and continue illegal activities from there.
The latest Closure Orders are part of a series of measures including prosecutions, seizures of vehicles, and seizures of illegal tobacco and vapes. This is the seventh Closure Order over a period of 18 months that the Council’s Trading Standards has obtained at premises in Bedford Borough, with a number of other premises either closing voluntarily or the occupiers were evicted by landlords or their agents, following discussions with Trading Standards.
Prior to the Closure Orders being granted, despite repeated interventions by the Council’s Trading Standards often supported by HMRC and Bedfordshire Police, criminal activity continued.
For example, during this year’s Bedford River Festival in July, Bedfordshire Police and the Council’s Trading Standards team witnessed illegal cigarettes being purchased inside Bedford International Express, supplied from Frozen Food Plus, following a test purchase in which a vape was illegally sold to an underage 16-year-old volunteer.
Councillor Andrea Spice, Portfolio Holder for Economic Prosperity, Planning, Housing and Regulatory Services said; “Illegal tobacco and vape sales threaten public health, damage legitimate businesses, and are frequently linked to wider criminal activities.
“Bedford Borough Council is fully committed to taking strong, decisive action to protect our community. These Closure Orders clearly demonstrate our determination to maintain a fair and safe trading environment for everyone.”
Residents are encouraged to report any concerns about underage sales and illegal tobacco or vape sales by emailing uas@bedford.gov.uk or tobaccoandvapes@bedford.gov.uk
Learn more about underage sales in Bedford Borough at www.bedford.gov.uk/business/trading-standards/underage-sales
For further advice and information for consumers and businesses, go to
www.bedford.gov.uk/business/trading-standards