Three Byker shops have been closed down after they were found to be selling counterfeit cigarettes and vapes, in some cases to children.
Carrefoor, Eastern Europe, and Stop and Shop, all of which are on Shields Road, were investigated following concerns from the public about items on sale at the stores. Residents had complained about rising anti-social behaviour around the shops and raised concern about sales of cigarettes and vapes - including that shops were selling vapes to children as young as 10 without asking for any form of identification.
Hoards of youths are said to have flocked to Byker to buy vapes, even though it is illegal to sell them to under-18s - though nicotine-free products can currently be sold. One dad even admitted to feeling "powerless" to stopping his daughter travelling from Whitley Bay to Byker to pick up e-cigarettes.
Police officers and officers from Newcastle City Council's Trading Standards department carried out a number of test purchases at each store to identify whether or not they were breaking any laws. Officers found that cigarettes and tobacco being sold at all three shops were usually counterfeit, however there were some non-tax paid products also being sold.
Disposable vapes that can be legally sold in the UK must have 600 puffs or less and contain two percent of nicotine. However, the vapes being sold at the stores that were seized by officers were found to have contained up to 9,000 puffs.
Earlier this month, Closure Notices were issued prohibiting access to the shops for 24 hours, with only representatives from the council, the premises' landlords, and the emergency services allowed to enter. All of the locks were changed and copies of the notices were fixed to the rear of the properties.
And on Thursday June 22, officers from Northumbria police applied for a Closure Order for all three businesses. The application was lodged at Newcastle Magistrates' Court and granted, meaning that all three premises will be closed for the next three months.
PC Sam Sharpe of Northumbria Police said: "Through our investigation, we found that all three shops were found to be selling counterfeit cigarettes and vapes, on occasion to children, and that is simply unacceptable.
She added: "Through our investigation, we found that all three shops were found to be selling counterfeit cigarettes and vapes, on occasion to children, and that is simply unacceptable.
"All cigarettes are harmful but counterfeit ones come with added risks. They are not produced by licensed companies and contain unknown quantities of chemicals.
"Some people might think that it’s OK to buy counterfeit items and take that risk, but what they don’t see is that the money used from the sale of these items is often used to fund organised crime and further illicit activity."
Newcastle City Council previously told the Local Democracy Service that there are "significant issues" with children vaping and said that it had seized 1.4 tonnes of illicit e-cigarettes.
Cllr Irim Ali, Newcastle City Council cabinet member for a dynamic city, said: "Products which don’t meet UK standards are potentially dangerous and their sale can have a detrimental impact on honest traders. The activity of these businesses also resulted in an increase in anti-social behaviour and crime in the area which is unacceptable.
"We take the distribution of illegal goods extremely seriously and we are committed to working with partners to take action against those who seek to exploit and cause harm in our communities."
