Police have shut three shops as part of a clamp down on the sale of illegal cigarettes and vapes.
Spalding European Market and Warsaw, both in Winsover Road, and Adams Mini Mart 8 North Street, Crowland, were forced to close yesterday (Wednesday, January 15).
South Holland Police and Lincolnshire County Council have been working together for sometime to help tackle the sale of illegal cigarettes and vapes in the area.
Illegal cigarettes and vapes which were seized by South Holland Police
Andy Wright, Principal Trading Standards Officer, said, “These are all premises that have been the subject of previous Closure Orders for the sale of illegal cigarettes and vapes.
“We are aware that we need to work towards a long-term solution and that Closure Orders are only a temporary fix.
“With that in mind we will seek assurances from landlords to ensure their premises are removed from the cycle of criminal activity that we have seen to date.”
Warsaw Supermarket in Winsover Road in Spalding has been closed PHOTO: South Holland Police
It is deemed that making a closure order was necessary to prevent further criminal activity on the premises. These orders last for three months and are in place until midnight on April 16, 2025.
The order prohibits anyone from remaining on or entering the property with a few exceptions to allow maintenance. If anyone does anything which they are prohibited from doing by this order, they are liable for arrest and could receive up to 51 week in prison, or a fine, or both.
Sgt Callum Corder, from South Holland’s Neighbourhood Policing Team, said: “In close collaboration with our Trading Standards partners we have again imposed closure orders, on this occasion our targets were three shops across the South Holland district.”