Three Boston shops forced to close in police and trading standards operation

Three shops have been ordered to close for three months after they were found to be selling illegal cigarettes.

Police teamed up with Lincolnshire County Council’s trading standards officers as part of a crackdown on counterfeit, unsafe and non-duty-paid cigarettes and, as a result, three orders were passed at Boston Magistrates’ Court on Friday (December 8).

The orders covered:

*Bode, 92 High Street, Boston;

*World Fruit, and Veg, 143 Windsor Bank, Boston;

*Buy 4 Less, 72 Main Ridge, Boston.

All three shops were given three-month closure orders and ordered to pay £403 costs each.

The actions follow similar closure orders in Spalding.

The closure order prohibits any persons entering the shops for the three-month period other than emergency services or a person authorised to act on behalf of the emergency services.

Anyone found breaching the order may be subject to a fine, imprisonment or both.

Inspector Colin Clarkson, of Lincolnshire Police, said: “We applied for these orders based on evidence that criminal activity was taking place on the premises. It’s important that we take joint action to stop businesses trading illegally.

“Criminal activity will not be accepted and attracts undesirable elements into the centre of Boston. We’ll continue to work with Lincolnshire Trading Standards to protect the public from dangerous products.”

Andy Wright, from Lincolnshire Trading Standards, said: “The magistrates granted the orders for the maximum period allowed by the law - three months. However, the option of extending that by a further three months will be considered in future if necessary.

“We will continue to work with police and other agencies in relation to any criminal activity.”