Illegal tobacco and vapes: Four closure order extensions, three new closure orders and proactive intel-led policing pays dividends across Boston and South Holland

As part of our ongoing commitment to tackle the sale of illegal tobacco and vapes and its broader associated criminal activity, we are pleased to report that on Friday last week (10 May), we successfully applied for four closure order extensions. 

You may have seen that closure orders had been issued previously on the following premises.  Thanks to the hard work and collaboration of our Neighbourhood Policing Teams and Trading Standards partners, now, they will remain closed for a further three months after we found further evidence that illegal and illicit goods continued to be sold at:

• Spalding European Foodstore, 21 Winsover Road, Spalding
• Uk Maramures Express, 24 Commercial Road, Spalding
• Warsaw, 29 Winsover Road, Spalding
• Baltic, unit, 3,4 5 and 10, 14-16 Winsover Road, Spalding

Intelligence-led policing

In addition to the above closure extensions, proactive intelligence led policing also bore excellent results around numerous shops storing illegal cigarettes. 

Also on Friday, we searched a vehicle on North Street, Crowland, and seized a significant amount of illegal vapes and cigarettes.

In the afternoon, we recovered a large amount of cigarettes, enough to fill ten large clear bin bags, from Baltic on Winsover Road, Spalding. 

Three men were observed carrying boxes and bags out of the back of the store to an abandoned car parked behind the premises. One of the men were detained, two other men made off, one of whom jumped over a fence and tried to hide a large bag of contraband, but this was later recovered by officers.  A significant amount of vapes and cigarettes was later recovered from the abandoned vehicle and shop also.

The case has now been handed over to Lincolnshire Trading Standards to investigate as they are agency with primacy to deal with illegal trading in the county.

Of the closure orders and excellent intelligence work undertaken by Lincolnshire Police’s Response, Neighbourhoods Policing and Legal Services teams, the Insp for South Holland, Matt Dickinson said: “This was an excellent example of how our teams are collaborating effectively behind the scenes day in, day out, to collate the vital evidence required to provide to our Trading Standards colleagues with the evidence they need to be able to bring these cases to before the courts.  We are determined to do everything in our power to facilitate their arduous task however we can.”

News just in from Boston

Authorities returned from court yesterday, Wednesday, 15 May, having successfully secured closure orders on the grounds that occupants have engaged in crime and anti-social behaviour on the premises, that the premises are associated with significant and persistent disorder or persistent serious nuisance to members of the public.  The following premises are to be closed immediately and remain closed for 3 months:

• Bode, 92 High Street, Boston
• Buy4less, 72 Main Ridge, Boston
• World of Fruit & Veg, 143 Windsor Bank, Boston

The Inspector for Boston, Insp Ian Cotton said: “We continue to support Trading Standards in tackling this illegal activity. We would encourage people to continue to report suspicious activity around these shops while they remain closed. If anyone is seen within the shops please contact Boston Police, or get in touch via the details below”.

If you have any information on shops that might be selling illegal tobacco or vapes or selling to minors, please get in touch via the following:

• Call 101
• Report anonymously via CrimeStoppers on 0800 555 111 or online.