A DROYLSDEN off-licence has been closed down after a series of licensing breaches including selling illegal vapes and tobacco.
Tameside Council took enforcement action against Amsterdam Off Licence at 77 Market Street to protect the public.
The local authority was today (18 October) successful in its application to Stockport Magistrates Court for a Closure Order for three months to prevent future disorder or serious nuisance.
The premises had been found to be consistently non-compliant in relation to various licensing, waste management and Trading Standards matters, and other criminality. It had been subject to two premises licence reviews.
In December 2022, following a Council ‘Our Streets’ Day of Action, a compliance visit was carried out after a pile of bags belonging to the premises was found outside. Officers found a car at the rear of the premises that was being used to store illicit tobacco and drugs. The licence was subsequently reviewed and the business’s licence was suspended for three months with conditions attached.
New owners continued to operate the business in a non-compliant manner and sell illegal vapes and tobacco. Trading Standards made several seizures and in September 2023 a car was again found parked at the rear of the shop containing a large quantity of illegal goods. In December 2023, the business’s licence was revoked.
The ownership changed hands again with Mr Sami Changa Jafar taking ownership in February 2024. He applied for a new licence at the premises in July but following representations from Licensing, Trading Standards, Public Health and Greater Manchester Police, this was refused.
But the premises continued to sell alcohol, illicit tobacco and illegal vapes. On serving a Closure Notice yesterday morning (17 October), council officers seized more illicit tobacco, including 2,500 cigarettes and 30 pouches of tobacco.
Investigations are continuing with regards to other matters concerning the premises.
A Tameside Council spokesperson said: “These premises have persistently broken laws and continued to sell alcohol despite no longer having a licence, as well as selling illicit tobacco and illegal vapes. We won’t hesitate to take action against traders who are operating illegally or breaching licensing conditions, in order to protect our residents and prevent harm to the community.
“This case again shows the importance of the Council’s Our Streets campaign in tackling concerns and helping improve our communities.”
Tameside’s Police Licensing Officer Craig Foley worked in partnership with Tameside Council’s Licensing Team to obtain the Closure Order.
He said: “The partnership approach, along with our communities’ input through reporting and understanding, hopefully highlights we are all committed to continue tackling this kind of disruptive behaviour that has a criminal element to it.”
‘Our Streets’ sees regular Days of Action carried out across Tameside to clean up litter and dumped waste and gather evidence against flytippers to help make Tameside, cleaner, greener and safer. For more information visit www.tameside.gov.uk/ourstreets.