Whittlesey shop 'closed' by police after reports of illicit sales and organised crime

A Whittlesey shop has been temporarily closed for business by police following complaints about sales of illicit items and organised crime.

The partial closure order was served on The Whittlesey Local Store, 46 Market Street, Whittlesey, yesterday afternoon (Tuesday) by the Neighbourhood Support Team following a successful application at Peterborough Magistrates’ Court.

The order, which is in place until 30 September this year and granted under the Anti-Social Behaviour, Crime and Policing Act 2014, states the store is closed to all people, at all times, except for the emergency services, employees of the local authority, the landlord and the legal tenant.

The shop area of the building is to remain closed and no trading is to take place from the premises while the order is in place.

Any breach of the order is a criminal offence which could result in imprisonment of up to three months, a fine, or both.

PC James Rice, who applied for the closure order, said: “We applied to the courts for the business to be closed due to persistent issues in the store around things such as the sale of illegal vapes to children and other illicit items such as non-duty paid products.

“Circumstances such as these are often a front for organised criminality and anti-social behaviour which has detrimental effects in our communities. As a force we are committed to tackling organised crime, working alongside partner agencies including Trading Standards and the local council, but most importantly, members of our communities.”

Anyone with information about the order being breached should report to police using the online reporting form or webchat service. Those without internet access should call 101.