A Piccadilly trader has been ordered to close their doors after being linked to the illegal sale of vapes to children.
On Tuesday, December 10, Manchester City Council’s application to impose a Closure Order on Matadar News and Souvenirs, in Piccadilly, was granted by Manchester and Salford Magistrates’ Court.
This was the result of investigations carried out by The Council and Greater Manchester Police into the alleged sale of illegal vapes and nicotine products from the store, and in some cases sale of nicotine products to children.
Earlier this year, on August 27, a significant number of illicit products were removed from the store by Council officers following an inspection. This included 1,642 vapes, 146 cigarettes and a number of suspected counterfeit items.
Trading standards officers were initially refused entry to a locked room to the rear of the shop. It took the discovery of a four-digit code by accompanying GMP officers to gain entry where eventually, a large number of illegal vapes were found. It was during this time that officers were subjected to verbal abuse by a male staff member when carrying out their work.
During a previous inspection in November 2022 Trading Standards seized a further 679 non-compliant vapes.
It was also in 2022 when nicotine products were sold to a 14-year-old who entered the store to carry out a test purchase.
As a result of this Closure Order, the shop will be forced to remain closed for eight weeks. Only a specified director of the company owning the freehold of the premises, the manager of Matadar News, and Council officers and members of the emergency services will be allowed to legally enter the premises during this period.
The Council is very much concerned with the sale of illegal tobacco and nicotine products, given that they provide a gateway to younger people taking up smoking.
A zero-tolerance approach will always be taken when it comes to this type of criminality, and the Council will do everything in its power, alongside our colleagues in GMP to pursue prosecutions like this.
Councillor Garry Bridges, Deputy Leader of Manchester City Council, said: “The sale of illegal vapes or tobacco products is not an underground trade, as we have seen with this case – these items can be found next to one of the busiest public spaces in Manchester.
“However, now the tens of thousands who pass through this area every day can see for themselves that action has been taken, and the supply and sale of illegal products will not be tolerated.”
Inspector Kam Hare, from GMP’s City Centre Neighbourhood Policing Team, said: “The illegal supply of vapes continues to be a top priority for us in Manchester.
“Through our many interactions with young people in the city centre, many are regularly in possession of non-compliant vapes, and the sale of nicotine products to children is completely unacceptable.
“Closing premises which sell illicit vapes is a great step towards ensuring the safety of our most vulnerable and we are committed to working closely with our partners at the Council to do all we can to safeguard young people.”
Dr Cordelle Ofori, Director of Public Health for Manchester, said: “Vaping can be used as a way for smokers to quit as it is recognised as being much safer than smoking tobacco, but, is not risk free. For health reasons, we do not recommend vaping to non-smokers, or anyone under the age of 18.
“The government have recently presented a Tobacco and Vapes Bill to parliament, proposing to ban vapes and nicotine products from being deliberately branded, promoted, and advertised to children, preventing the next generation from taking up nicotine-based habits.
“These measures are welcomed and will help protect the health of children in Manchester.”
