Kent c-store receives closure order

By Liz Wells in Industry News 2nd July 2020

Chatham Express, a convenience store in the high street, has received a closure order after being found to be in possession of illegal tobacco and for repeated incidents of antisocial behaviour.

Kent Police’s Medway Community Safety Unit successfully made an application for a closure order to Folkestone Magistrates’ Court – the first time such legislation has been used against a business in Kent.

The action was taken following repeated incidents of antisocial behaviour that were in some way linked to the store. However, a search carried out on 11 June also led to the discovery of 900 boxes of illegally imported cigarettes, which were seized for destruction. The seizure is one of four made since 2018. During this time more than 8,000 packets of cigarettes and 400 pouches of tobacco were seized.

Sergeant Steve Holpin, from the Medway Community Safety Unit, said: “This store was closely linked to a huge amount of antisocial behaviour in Chatham and, despite repeated visits from our officers, the situation failed to improve.

“We listened carefully to the concerns of people visiting the town, and businesses in the area, and could not allow the issues to go unchallenged. As this case shows, we will always use the full remit of our powers to resolve an issue and take proportionate action anyone involved in antisocial behaviour. I am confident this result will have a positive impact on the surrounding area.”