Wednesday, August 26, 2026
Yesterday (Tuesday, 25 August 2026) two vape shops in Lancaster’s City Centre were ordered to close.
Lancaster Police served the Closure Orders to One Stop Mini Market on Church Street and Euro Shop on Cheapside after multiple Trading Standards test purchasing operations at the stores discovered that both were found to be selling illegal tobacco.
Euro Shop failed five Trading Standards inspections, where illicit goods were seized. They also failed a number of test purchasing operations, selling illicit cigarettes to adult test purchasers and vapes to underage test purchasers.
One Stop failed seven out of a total eight inspections and three test purchasing operations, selling illicit cigarettes to adults on two occasions and to a child on one occasion.
Both Closure Orders were passed Tuesday 25th August 2026 by Preston Magistrates Court under section 80 of the Anti-Social Behaviour, Crime and Policing Act 2014 prohibiting anyone from entering either store until November 2026.
Lancaster Police’s Civil Orders Officer, Pete Burns, said:
"These closure orders are the result of dedicated targeting by Lancaster Police and Lancashire Trading Standards to tackle businesses that put profit before the safety and wellbeing of our communities. Following test purchase operations which identified the trade of illegal tobacco, we successfully applied for the closure orders to protect local people from further harm.
“The closures send a clear message to other retailers across Lancaster and Morecambe that the trade in illegal tobacco will not be tolerated. We will continue to take robust action against anyone who breaks the law, particularly where vulnerable young people are being targeted, and we will not hesitate to pursue similar measures where necessary."
Councillor Joshua Roberts, cabinet member for Rural Affairs, Environment and Communities at Lancashire County Council, said:
"These Closure Orders send a clear message that illegal traders will not be tolerated in Lancashire.
"Working closely with Lancashire Constabulary, our Trading Standards officers will continue to target businesses involved in the illegal sale of tobacco and vaping products and take robust enforcement action where necessary.
"Illegal tobacco and vape sales are often just one part of a much wider pattern of offending. By targeting these activities, we are helping to disrupt criminal networks, improve community safety and ensure legitimate businesses are not placed at a disadvantage.
"Anyone with information about the sale of illegal tobacco or vaping products can report it to Trading Standards via the Citizens Advice Consumer Service on 0808 223 1133."
Op Centurion is a county-wide crackdown on anti-social behaviour, led by Lancashire Constabulary and backed by the Police and Crime Commissioner Clive Grunshaw. You can report anti-social behaviour concerns to Lancashire Police by calling 101 or via their website https://www.lancashire.police.uk/ro/report/
In an emergency, call 999.
