A TOWN centre shop in Wellington will remain closed for three months after magistrates granted an application by Avon and Somerset Police Chief Constable Sarah Crew.

It follows a joint operation on Tuesday (June 9) where Danya Store, in High Street, was raided by police, Her Majesty’s Revenue and Customs, and trading standards officers.

They were investigating the suspected selling of counterfeit tobacco and e-cigarettes (vapes) to minors.

The shop was closed under an interim-order for 48 hours ahead of a magistrates court hearing which took place at 10 am on Thursday (June 11) to decide the Chief Constable’s application under the Anti-Social Behaviour, Crime and Policing Act 2014.

The magistrates issued an order that they were satisfied:

  • That a person has engaged, or is likely to engage in disorderly, offensive, or criminal behaviour on the premises and
  • The use of the premises has resulted, or is likely to result, in serious nuisance to members of the public, and
  • There has been, or is likely to be, disorder near those premises associated with the use of those premises, and
  • The making of this order is necessary to prevent the occurrence of such disorder or nuisance for a period of up to three months

They ordered Danya Store to be closed until one minute before midnight on Thursday, September 10.

The order makes it an offence for anybody to enter the premises before that time, with the penalty on conviction being a fine and/or up to 51 weeks in prison.

The owners of the store have a right to appeal to the crown court against the order, while anybody with ‘an interest in the premises’ may apply to the magistrates to discharge the order, and anybody who suffers ‘financial loss’ may apply for compensation.

Wellington neighbourhood policing Sgt Jon O’Connor said on Tuesday the action had been taken after complaints from the local community.

Sgt O’Connor said police were aware of the concerns of ‘parents and other members of the public’ around the sale of some products by the retailer.