Grim findings after Huddersfield off-licence raid from stolen vodka to rats

Three open packs of illegal cigarettes were found under the counter, believed to have been sold individually
-Credit: (Image: West Yorkshire Police)


A Huddersfield off-licence where police officers found over 1,500 illegal cigarettes, alcohol believed to be stolen and rat droppings in the storeroom, is set to have its licence reviewed next week.

West Yorkshire Police (WYP) has applied to Kirklees Council for a review of a premises licence for Makwan Mini Market that trades as Hudds Wines at Kirkgate in the centre of town. The police force says the business is failing to meet the licensing objectives of public safety and the prevention of crime and disorder and has recommended the licence be revoked.

On June 10, 2024, officers from WYP attended the shop after receiving intelligence that it was selling illegal cigarettes and tobacco. The site was searched with a black dustbin found to contain 1,700 illegal cigarettes and five pouches of illegal tobacco, seized.

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At this time, the licence holder, who has not been named, was working in the shop. However, he is said to have denied knowledge of the items, saying he was storing them for a friend and didn’t realise that they were illegal. A warning letter was then issued explicitly stating that the premises must not store or sell illegal cigarettes or tobacco.

The following month, on July 11, Trading Standards attended the site and were able to purchase more illegal cigarettes. A few days later, the two authorities carried out a joint search of the premises and found 227 illegal vapes and numerous empty packaging sleeves from non-duty cigarettes.

During the same search, several bottles of spirits thought to be stolen were seized with security tags still around their necks, one of which had burn marks as though someone had tried to remove the tag by setting it on fire.

The burnt security tag on a bottle of Smirnoff Vodka
The burnt security tag on a bottle of Smirnoff Vodka -Credit:West Yorkshire Police

The storeroom, where drinks and snacks to go on sale were stored, was described as “very untidy and dirty” with rat droppings on the floor and rubbish stacked in front of a fire door to the height of the door handle.

Due to these findings and more, the police has urged the council to take away the licence and concluded that the licence holder has “no regard for the law or the safety of his customers”.

The review of the licence will be carried out at a meeting of the council’s Licensing Panel on Tuesday (September 17). Here, the panel will have a number of available options including suspending the licence, revoking the licence and removing the designated premises supervisor.

Ultimately, panel members must arrive at their decision based on the promotion of the four licensing objectives which are: the prevention of crime and disorder, public safety, the protection of children from harm and the prevention of public nuisance.

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