Shopkeepers fined (From Leigh Journal)

Shopkeepers fined

10:25am Wednesday 3rd February 2010

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TWO shopkeepers have been fined for selling cigarettes to volunteer underage decoys used by trading standards officers.

Sixteen- year-old girls, working with council officers, attempted to buy cigarettes from 17 shops during a two day operation in November last year.

The girls were able to make six purchases and Wigan Council has announced the results of the first prosecutions.

Bharat Patel of M&V Store, Gloucester Street, Atherton, and Balvinder Kaur Singh of Premier Discount, Sandy Lane, Hindley, were each fined £200 and ordered to pay £390 costs for the selling of cigarettes to a 16-years-old.

Cabinet champion for licensing, Cllr Paul Prescott, said: “Selling cigarettes to children is absolutely unacceptable. I hope these two court cases send a strong message to all retailers.”

The premises visited were selected as a result of previous underage sales or from complaints received.

M&V Stores had been warned after a previous sale made from the shop in January 2008.

Chief Trading Standards Officer Julie Middlehurst said: “These are the first cases of several. Most businesses are very supportive and are keen to be good partners with us on issues of licensing and retail laws, but we will always take a hard line with shops - or anyone else – continuing to sell cigarettes to children.”

Anyone with information on underage sales should ring Consumer Direct 08454 040506.

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