Shop licence could be removed following illegal cigarette discovery

An application is being made to revoke a shop’s premises licence in Great Yarmouth due to criminal activity said to be linked to it.

Yarmouth Food & Wine on King Street is to be the subject of a premises licence review by Great Yarmouth Borough Council following an application by Norfolk Trading Standards officer Brian Chatten.

A criminal investigation is underway by Norfolk Trading Standards as a result of a seizure of smuggled tobacco products said to have been uncovered in a joint raid with police on Monday, September 11.

Papers to be discussed at the council’s licensing committee on January 5 say a “cache of smuggled cigarettes and tobacco was found in an elaborate hide, dug into the wall behind an electrical fuse box in the store room behind the shop counter”.

Mr Chatten’s submission adds: “Trading Standards have obtained evidence the King Street Food & Wine has been operating the premises in a manner which undermines the crime and disorder licensing objective through the storage and sale of smuggled tobacco products.”

The application has been supported by police, who say the shop’s licence should be revoked as there are also issues surrounding the sale of alcohol at the premises which is in a road said to be the subject of anti-social behaviour.

Sgt Dan Smith, from the south Yarmouth safer neighbourhood team, said in a letter: “The licencing team have made me aware of a number of issues at this premises and disappointedly when a member of my staff attended the premises in question on 2nd of December one of our known street drinkers was leaving the shop with what seemed to be a number of cans of alcohol in a carrier bag.

“I would not support the continuation of any licence relating to the sale of alcohol from the premise with the information that has passed to myself especially with the heightened level of anti-social behaviour in this area.”

The committee has options to choose from - modify the conditions of the licence or exclude part of it, revoke or suspend it and remove the designated premises licence supervisor. The premises licence holder has been Hassan Obiert since November 2016. The designated premises supervisor is Azad Sharif.