A Hartlepool corner shop where illicit products were being stored in hidden compartments has been shuttered. 

Qwidz In at 29 Murray Street - which was formerly known as Fill Up Superstore - has been slapped with a three-month closure order by Teesside Magistrates' Court. 

A court hearing on Thursday (October 10) heard how two recent test purchases held one week apart had resulted in the sale of illicit cigarettes. 

In between the test purchases, trading standards officers carried out an inspection of the premises and whilst there they observed customers being chased away from the entrance.

This, said the officers, was presumably to prevent them requesting illegal products.

The court was told that those running the shop did not keep their illicit products at the counter and instead adopted various methods to try and hide them. 

This included bringing illicit products from different premises on demand, storing products in hidden compartments and storing them in adjacent buildings.

The court was told that unless the site was closed, the criminal behaviour would continue, causing "even more nuisance" for residents and businesses nearby.

 

'Brazen criminality'

Councillor Karen Oliver, chair of the council’s neighbourhood services committee, said: “It is important that we take action wherever possible to tackle such brazen criminality and I’d like to thank the Council’s Trading Standards Team for their excellent work in bringing this matter to court.

“I hope that the Closure Order sends out a clear message to those involved in the illicit sales of tobacco products that we are not prepared to tolerate their activities.

“We need to create a pride in our neighbourhoods and I would encourage local residents with information or concerns about such illegal sales to contact the Council or the police. It’s important that we all take a stand to counter criminal activity such as this.”

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At the hearing, costs totalling £2,658.39 were awarded to the Council.

Whilst the closure order is in force, nobody is allowed access to the premises apart from officers of the local authority.

Anyone who witnesses the order being breached should call Cleveland Police on 101 or 999 in an emergency. Alternatively, they can contact Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.