Fenham Euro Market ordered to close after selling illegal vapes and cigarettes to children
Northumbria Police were granted a closure order by magistrates following concerns over a Fenham shop.
by Sam Volpe · ChronicleLiveA Fenham shop has been closed for three months for allowing children to buy illegal vapes and cigarettes.
Euro Market, in Two Ball Lonnen in Fenham, can not now re-open until December 23 after magistrates at Newcastle Magistrates' Court granted a three-month closure order, following an application by local Northumbria Police officers. This followed an operation led by the Newcastle West neighbourhood policing team following reports of concern from people living in the area.
Police were told that children had been able to buy illegal vapes and cigarettes from the shop - and officers then used police cadets to carry out test purchases - successfully. The closure order means it is now a criminal offence for anyone other than the landlord to enter the premises, and it would also be criminal for the shop to re-open.
Inspector Patrick Hannon said: "This is some really good work from our officers, acting on community concerns and safeguarding local children from harm. When we received intelligence and reports from the community that youngsters were being allowed to buy these products, we immediately launched an investigation.
“We have now secured a closure order against the shop for the next three months and our hope is that this sends a strong message to businesses who continue to sell illicit products to those underage as to the action we will take."
Anyone wanting to report suspicious activity in their community can do so by sending a direct message to Northumbria Police’s social media accounts or by using the live chat on the Force’s website, you can also report using the dedicated "something you've seen or heard" page on the Northumbria Police website.
Anyone aware of the ongoing sale or supply of illicit and counterfeit tobacco products can also report this anonymously via the Keep-It-Out website at: https://keep-it-out.co.uk/anonymous-reporting/
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