Closure order granted for Gloucester shop following the repeated sale of illegal tobacco

A closure order has been secured for a shop in Gloucester following the repeated sale of illegal tobacco.

Too Late Mini Market on Barton Street is now subject to a three month long closure order preventing anyone other than the Emergency Services and Trading Standards from being at the premises.

The application, which jointly came from the Gloucester Neighbourhood Support Team and Trading Standards, was granted on 27 January after a judge heard concerns that had been raised about the sale of illegal tobacco.

Since November 2023, when the shop was known as Too Late Mini Market, there have been 37 test purchases of illegal tobacco.

This resulted in 1,999 packs of illegal cigarettes and 258 pouches of hand rolling tobacco worth approximately £14,000 being seized.

During this time, the shop was subjected to three other closure orders closing the premises for nine months in total.

Despite this the owners regularly sold suspected illegal tobacco.

The order will be in effect until 11.59pm on 27 April and anyone who is seen at the premises faces being sent to prison for three months and being fined.

PC Tim Burch said: "Many test purchases have been conducted at the shop where illegal cigarettes have been purchased and it appears that the worker leaves the shop, goes to a vehicle to collect cigarettes before returning to sell to the customer.

“Too Late Mini Market has had more Trading Standards inspections than any other shop suspected of selling illegal tobacco.”

Cllr Paul Hodgkinson, cabinet member for Trading Standards at Gloucestershire County Council, said: “Our Trading Standards team continues to work closely with our police colleagues to disrupt the supply of illegal tobacco.

"It’s important for the public to remember that no duty is paid on these products, meaning no money goes towards the vital public services we all rely on.

"The sale of illegal tobacco is not a victimless crime — this criminal activity is frequently linked to wider offending and we will continue working in partnership to protect our communities.”

Closure orders are a fast, flexible power that can be used to protect victims and communities.

The orders are designed to tackle serious and persistent forms of anti-social behaviour, they close a property completely or partially, preventing access by anyone for three months, with a possible extension to six months.