Three-month closure order for Nelson convenience store after illegal sales

A convenience store in Nelson has been ordered to close for three months after repeated enforcement action uncovered illicit cigarettes, tobacco and vapes, as well as an illegal sale to an underage customer.

2 Four 7 Convenience, on Barkerhouse Road, was served with a closure order following a joint operation involving Lancashire Police and Trading Standards.

A series of inspections and test purchases at the premises resulted in the seizure of illicit tobacco products, cigarettes and vapes.

The shop also failed an underage test purchase after selling a vape to a young person.

The enforcement action followed complaints about anti-social behaviour and noise nuisance linked to the premises.

The three-month closure order was granted following a hearing at Preston Magistrates' Court on Wednesday, November 4.

Under the order, the shop must remain closed until Thursday, February 4, 2027.

Anyone entering the premises before the order expires, without a reasonable excuse, will be committing a criminal offence and could face a fine and/or imprisonment.

Sgt Carl McCoy, from the Pendle Prosper Partnership Team, said: "Trading of this nature is not, and never will be, tolerated in Pendle and we will continue to work with our partners including Trading Standards, HMRC, and Pendle Borough Council, to take firm action on those businesses that sell illicit tobacco and cigarettes.

“I would ask the residents of Pendle to keep reporting concerns to us or Trading Standards, as your information is pivotal to the way we carry out our investigations and they are taken very seriously."

Coun. Joshua Roberts, Lancashire County Council's cabinet member for Rural Affairs, Environment and Communities, said the seizure demonstrated the importance of enforcement work.

He said: "The seizure of illicit cigarettes, tobacco and vapes shows exactly why this enforcement work is so important. These products have no place in our communities, particularly when we are also seeing age-restricted products being sold to young people.

"We will continue working with our partners to disrupt the illegal trade and take firm action against businesses that break the law.

"Anyone with information about the sale of illicit goods can report it to Trading Standards via the Citizens Advice Consumer Service on 0808 223 1133."

The closure was carried out as part of Lancashire Constabulary's Operation Centurion, a county-wide initiative targeting anti-social behaviour and criminality, backed by Police and Crime Commissioner Clive Grunshaw.

Residents can report anti-social behaviour to Lancashire Police by calling 101 or online at https://www.lancashire.police.uk/ro/report/.