My Local Authority informed me of the following:

"A shop in <....> town centre has been ordered to close for three months. Following allegations received about <....>, officers from the Council’s Trading Standards team used powers under the Anti-Social Behaviour,
Crime and Policing Act 2014 to apply for a closure order to be granted."

Given that having to close for three months would be a death sentence
for most small businesses, I was concerned that this action would be
taken simply on the basis of "allegations".

It's quite possible that the shop in question is 'bang to rights' in
this matter, but the process seems quite arbitrary.

Is this common today?

I have deleted the name of the town and the shop because neither seemed relevant to the question.


--
Sam Plusnet

--- SoupGate-Win32 v1.05
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On Fri, 01 Dec 2023 18:45:28 +0000, Sam Plusnet wrote:

My Local Authority informed me of the following:

"A shop in <....> town centre has been ordered to close for three
months. Following allegations received about <....>, officers from the Council’s Trading Standards team used powers under the Anti-Social Behaviour,
Crime and Policing Act 2014 to apply for a closure order to be granted."

Given that having to close for three months would be a death sentence
for most small businesses, I was concerned that this action would be
taken simply on the basis of "allegations".

It's quite possible that the shop in question is 'bang to rights' in
this matter, but the process seems quite arbitrary.

Is this common today?

I have deleted the name of the town and the shop because neither seemed relevant to the question.

Where have you been the past 20 years ?

A "head shop" near me was forced to closed despite never once having done anything illegal or anti social.

And older folk will recall how perfectly legal sexshops were repeated
raided (nothing ever found) until they closed down.

--- SoupGate-Win32 v1.05
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"Sam Plusnet" <not@home.com> wrote in message news:cRpaN.4$4cG4.0@fx11.ams1...

My Local Authority informed me of the following:

"A shop in <....> town centre has been ordered to close for three months. Following allegations received about <....>, officers from the Council's Trading
Standards team used powers under the Anti-Social Behaviour, Crime and Policing Act 2014
to apply for a closure order to be granted."

Given that having to close for three months would be a death sentence for most small
businesses, I was concerned that this action would be taken simply on the basis of
"allegations".

It's quite possible that the shop in question is 'bang to rights' in this matter, but
the process seems quite arbitrary.

Is this common today?

I have deleted the name of the town and the shop because neither
seemed relevant to the question.

A much used, and much needed local sub post office was closed and put
out of buiiness, by such an order. In that case the post office shared
premises with a general store, under the same ownership. The latter
sold beer and spirits which then attracted social drinkers who congregated outside and in the vicinity.

This will presumably have then been brought to the attention of the police
who will then have "attended" on numerous occasions.

Without knowing the details, I wouldn't be altogether surprised if the
same didn't apply here. Either a fast food place with a rowdy clientele, especially late at night, or somewhere attractive to social drinkers;
either of which might require regular attendance from the police


bb

--- SoupGate-Win32 v1.05
* Origin: fsxNet Usenet Gateway (21:1/5)

On 01/12/2023 18:45, Sam Plusnet wrote:

My Local Authority informed me of the following:

"A shop in <....> town centre has been ordered to close for three months. Following allegations received about <....>, officers from the Council’s Trading Standards team used powers under the Anti-Social Behaviour,
Crime and Policing Act 2014 to apply for a closure order to be granted."

Given that having to close for three months would be a death sentence
for most small businesses, I was concerned that this action would be
taken simply on the basis of "allegations".

Does "apply for a closure order to be granted" imply that there was a
court hearing at which the council provided evidence and the shop put
their side of things?

--- SoupGate-Win32 v1.05
* Origin: fsxNet Usenet Gateway (21:1/5)

On 01/12/2023 20:54, GB wrote:

On 01/12/2023 18:45, Sam Plusnet wrote:

My Local Authority informed me of the following:

"A shop in <....> town centre has been ordered to close for three months.
Following allegations received about <....>, officers from the
Council’s Trading Standards team used powers under the Anti-Social
Behaviour, Crime and Policing Act 2014 to apply for a closure order to
be granted."

Given that having to close for three months would be a death sentence
for most small businesses, I was concerned that this action would be
taken simply on the basis of "allegations".

Does "apply for a closure order to be granted" imply that there was a
court hearing at which the council provided evidence and the shop put
their side of things?

Assuming google works I found the following:

"Allegations were received that the premises was involved in the sale of illegal and illicit tobacco products and illegal vapes.

Information was also received alleging that the premises were selling
illegal vapes to school aged children.

On Monday xx November 2023, a hearing took place at xxxx Magistrates
Court. After hearing evidence from Council officers, the Court granted
the order to prevent criminal behaviour and anti-social behaviour
occurring within the area."

It doesn't say there was any representation from the shop owners.

--- SoupGate-Win32 v1.05
* Origin: fsxNet Usenet Gateway (21:1/5)

Sam Plusnet wrote:

"A shop in <....> town centre has been ordered to close for three months.
Is this common today?

searching for the key phrase finds 4 other local rag stories ...

--- SoupGate-Win32 v1.05
* Origin: fsxNet Usenet Gateway (21:1/5)

On 01/12/2023 18:45, Sam Plusnet wrote:

My Local Authority informed me of the following:

"A shop in <....> town centre has been ordered to close for three months. Following allegations received about <....>, officers from the Council’s Trading Standards team used powers under the Anti-Social Behaviour,
Crime and Policing Act 2014 to apply for a closure order to be granted."

Given that having to close for three months would be a death sentence
for most small businesses, I was concerned that this action would be
taken simply on the basis of "allegations".

It's quite possible that the shop in question is 'bang to rights' in
this matter, but the process seems quite arbitrary.

Is this common today?

I have deleted the name of the town and the shop because neither seemed relevant to the question.

I might have been helpful to mention there was a hearing. I can only
presume the shop didn't oppose the order, where in general the first
hearing would have been a case management hearing, which wouldn't have
resulted in a 3 month closure.

BICBW

--- SoupGate-Win32 v1.05
* Origin: fsxNet Usenet Gateway (21:1/5)

On 01-Dec-23 19:49, billy bookcase wrote:

"Sam Plusnet" <not@home.com> wrote in message news:cRpaN.4$4cG4.0@fx11.ams1...

My Local Authority informed me of the following:

"A shop in <....> town centre has been ordered to close for three months.
Following allegations received about <....>, officers from the Council's Trading
Standards team used powers under the Anti-Social Behaviour, Crime and Policing Act 2014
to apply for a closure order to be granted."

Given that having to close for three months would be a death sentence for most small
businesses, I was concerned that this action would be taken simply on the basis of
"allegations".

It's quite possible that the shop in question is 'bang to rights' in this matter, but
the process seems quite arbitrary.

Is this common today?

I have deleted the name of the town and the shop because neither
seemed relevant to the question.

A much used, and much needed local sub post office was closed and put
out of buiiness, by such an order. In that case the post office shared premises with a general store, under the same ownership. The latter
sold beer and spirits which then attracted social drinkers who congregated outside and in the vicinity.

This will presumably have then been brought to the attention of the police who will then have "attended" on numerous occasions.

Without knowing the details, I wouldn't be altogether surprised if the
same didn't apply here. Either a fast food place with a rowdy clientele, especially late at night, or somewhere attractive to social drinkers;
either of which might require regular attendance from the police

The word "Vape" cropped up.

--
Sam Plusnet

--- SoupGate-Win32 v1.05
* Origin: fsxNet Usenet Gateway (21:1/5)

On 01/12/2023 18:45, Sam Plusnet wrote:

My Local Authority informed me of the following:

"A shop in <....> town centre has been ordered to close for three months. Following allegations received about <....>, officers from the Council’s Trading Standards team used powers under the Anti-Social Behaviour,
Crime and Policing Act 2014 to apply for a closure order to be granted."

Given that having to close for three months would be a death sentence
for most small businesses, I was concerned that this action would be
taken simply on the basis of "allegations".

It's quite possible that the shop in question is 'bang to rights' in
this matter, but the process seems quite arbitrary.

Is this common today?

I have deleted the name of the town and the shop because neither seemed relevant to the question.

Is this the same case?


https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-norfolk-67649391

A shop that police said may have sold illegal vapes to children as young
as 11 has been ordered to close.

Norfolk Constabulary said The Green Shop in Dereham was selling vapes containing tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), illicit tobacco and also nitrous
oxide canisters.

The force claimed it was the first closure ruling from the courts for a
shop selling illegal vapes in Norfolk.

Norwich Magistrates' Court granted the three-month closure order this week.

--- SoupGate-Win32 v1.05
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