Court order shuts shops after repeat sale of illegal, harmful products

30 Sep 2025

The Newmarket High Street Mini Market - one of three shops in Newmarket that have been closed for three months after selling illegal vapes and tobacco despite a previous warning. Pictured are PC Tim Bond and Sgt Chris Button.

Three shops in Newmarket found to be selling illegal tobacco and vapes despite warnings from police and trading standards, have been closed for three months.

A joint operation between West Suffolk Council, Suffolk Trading Standards and Suffolk Police has today seen closure orders served on the Orange Shop in Crown Walk, Newmarket Express in Wellington Street and High Street New Market Ltd in the High Street.

It follows test purchases by Suffolk Trading Standards at all three businesses earlier in the year. At each shop they were able to buy illicit tobacco and non-compliant vaping products. Each of the businesses was given advice and a warning.

But in a follow up inspection all three were again found to still be selling the illegal products and at one of the shops a police sniffer dog discovered a secret hideaway in a wall in which further illegal tobacco was uncovered. In total 16,950 packets of illegal tobacco, 14kg of illegal hand rolling tobacco and 4600 illegal vapes were seized from the three shops. These significant quantities demonstrated the continuing persistent sale and distribution of prohibited products.

Today West Suffolk Council, supported with evidence from Suffolk Trading Standards and Suffolk Police, successfully applied to Ipswich Magistrates Court for a closure order for each of the businesses. The order, under section 80 of the Anti-Social Behaviour, Crime and Policing Act 2014, prevents the businesses from opening for a period of three months.

The Orange Shop in Newmarket - one of three businesses served with a closure order after selling illegal vapes and tobacco

Inspector Tim Scott from Suffolk Police, said: “This is a positive outcome to what has been a lengthy, complex and excellent example of multi-agency collaboration. This supports the work Police have been doing to tackle crime and anti-social behaviour in our new Safer Town Hotspot within Newmarket town centre and also the Clear, Hold, Build multi-agency initiative which has been stamping out organised crime in the town and building a stronger community.”

The work has been supported by Suffolk County Councillor, Rachel Hood, who serves on the town, district and county councils.

Cllr Hood said: “Suffolk Trading Standards, West Suffolk Council and The Police are to be thanked and congratulated for their excellent work to protect Newmarket. These products are illegal, dangerous and a blight on our community and the safety of local children, residents and visitors to Newmarket. That’s why my colleagues and I have supported West Suffolk, Suffolk Police and Suffolk Trading Standards in this action and welcome the outcome of today’s court order. It sends a clear message that the sale of these illegal products in our town will not be tolerated and that residents will be protected from criminality.”

Cllr Donna Higgins, Cabinet Member for Families and Communities at West Suffolk Council, said: “Community safety must continue to be our priority. Many illegal vapes do not meet safety regulations and contain higher levels of nicotine or other unknown and potentially harmful ingredients. And illegal tobacco can also contain harmful unregulated substances. These three businesses were all advised and warned before - and all chose to continue to flout the law and public safety. 
“Today’s court order should act as a warning to any others that we will take action to protect our communities from these harmful, illegal products. My thanks to all services who diligently worked towards decisive action to protect the community."

Councillor Steve Wiles, Suffolk County Council’s Cabinet Member for Public Health and Public Protection, said: “Illegal tobacco and vapes are not only harmful to people’s health, they also undermine legitimate local businesses and fuel wider criminality. Trading Standards has worked tirelessly with West Suffolk Council and Suffolk Police to investigate and take action against those who chose to ignore the law and put profit above public safety.

“This court order is an important step in protecting residents, particularly young people, from dangerous and unregulated products. It also sends a strong message to others that selling illegal goods will not be tolerated in Suffolk. I want to thank our officers and partners for their persistence in bringing about this result.”

The Newmarket Express is one of three shops in Newmarket served a three month closure order following a joint operation by West Suffolk Council, Suffolk Trading Standards and Suffolk Police to stop the sale of harmful illegal vapes and tobacco. Pictured are PC Tim Bond, Sgt Chris Button and PCSO Anne Marie-Powell.
 


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