Lichfield District Council has committed to closing local shops that persist in selling illegal products known to harm people and even cause cancer.
Environmental health, trading standards, police, and immigration officers raided 2 shops in Lichfield and 2 shops in Burntwood recently seizing more than £65,000 of cigarettes, tobacco, vapes, food and drink.
The shops have a history of selling illegal products, selling harmful products to children, and selling loose cigarettes. If caught again, Lichfield District Council has committed to closing them. Environmental health officers will serve a closure notice and then apply to the magistrates’ court for a closure order for up to three months.
Councillor Alex Farrell, Lichfield District Council’s Cabinet Member for Environmental Health, said:
“These shops have been selling harmful products including children’s sweets banned in the UK due to being linked to causing cancer, counterfeit cigarettes that could contain any number of toxic ingredients, vapes containing excessive amounts of nicotine, and foods that have no allergen labels which in extreme cases could result in a severe reaction and even death.
“We’ll continue to work with our trading standards, police, and immigration partners and send a clear message that we don’t want these businesses in Lichfield District. We will take action to close them, and to push customers to our many brilliant local retailers who operate within the law, and without exposing people to harm.”
Victoria Wilson, Cabinet Member responsible for Trading Standards at Staffordshire County Council, added:
“Our officers continue to tackle the sale of illicit and illegal tobacco and vapes, and banned foods. The supply of these illegal goods is closely linked to organised crime and helps fund their operations.
“The items can also be dangerous to people’s health and affect legitimate traders, so it’s good to get them off the streets. Anyone with information on the sale of such goods should contact the confidential helpline on 01785 330356 or visit Trading Standards Report It”.