Shop forced to close after selling illicit goods

A shop has been ordered to close after it was caught selling illicit vapes, cigarettes and tobacco to the public.

Carls Newsagent, based on Vauxhall Road, was also caught attempting to sell a vape to an underage person who visited the premises as part of a trading standards exercise.

Working with Merseyside Police, Liverpool City Council's Public Protection team started to investigate the newsagents after suspecting that they were trading illegally.

2 separate inspections by the teams found unregulated vapes and cigarettes hidden under the floor and in the till. The products, which were seized by officers, had an approximate market value of �2,500.

Now, the shop has been told that they must close for two months by Sefton Magistrates Court for breaching trading regulations.

Unregulated vapes and cigarettes could contain banned ingredients and may pose a serious health risk to anyone using them.

Rules around the sale of vapes are set out in the Tobacco and Related Products Regulations 2016.

The requirements restrict e-cigarette tanks to a capacity of no more than 2ml, around 600 puffs, while the maximum volume of nicotine-containing e-liquid for sale in one refill container is restricted to 10ml.

Additionally, e-liquids are restricted to a nicotine strength of no more than 20mg/ml.

The closure order continues the Council's Public Protection team's work, which saw almost 150,000 illicit vapes and cigarettes seized from businesses, with a combined value of �415,000 in the last financial year.

On Sunday 1 June, single-use vapes were banned from sale by businesses across the UK. The new legislation applies to all disposable vapes, regardless of whether they contain nicotine, and covers both in-store and online sales.

Councillor Laura Robertson-Collins, Cabinet Member for Communities, Neighbourhoods and Streetscene said:- "Regulations around the sale of vapes and cigarettes are implemented for a reason, and we will always investigate businesses that flout these rules. Vapes and cigarettes that do not meet the legal requirements could pose a dangerous health risk to users and our teams are committed to ensuring they do not end up in the hands of the public. The closure of this newsagent serves as a reminder that there are consequences, especially when selling to underage people is concerned. Vapes can be helpful when it comes to stopping smoking, but they should always be sourced from a reputable trader."

Liverpool City Centre Neighbourhood Inspector Jack Woodward said:- "This partnership work has seen action taken against a shop which persistently continued to trade illicit goods. We will continue to work closely with Liverpool City Council and other organisations in tackling such offenders, as well as the wider issues of anti social behaviour and crime in the city centre. If you have any information or concerns, contact us and we will take action."

Merseyside Couple Celebrate 20 Years of Volunteering for Dogs Trust This Volunteers' Week

THIS Volunteers' Week, Dogs Trust is celebrating an extraordinary couple whose passion for dogs has changed the lives of hundreds of rescue dogs and their own.

Alison and Jonathan Rutter from Merseyside are marking 20 years of volunteering with Dogs Trust Merseyside, having first joined the charity in 2004. What began as a shared bond over their love for animals has become a lifelong commitment to helping dogs find comfort, companionship, and second chances.

The couple, who have been together for 29 years and have been volunteering at Dogs Trust Merseyside for 20 of them, attended an open volunteer event and never looked back.

Jonathan said:- "We were going to go once a week, next thing we knew, we were there all weekend!"

Over 2 decades, Alison and Jonathan have supported the charity in countless ways, from cleaning kennels and socialising puppies to helping nervous dogs build confidence and giving some a forever home. Among the hundreds of dogs they've supported, Dana, a frightened stray, has played a special part in their story.

Found on the streets of Ireland, Dana was terrified of people and unfamiliar surroundings. The couple fostered her temporarily from Dogs Trust, but it soon became clear she had found her forever home. Today, the couple alternate their volunteering days so one can always be home to comfort Dana, who still needs extra support.

Reflecting on her time at the centre, Alison said:- "When I look back on my life, one of the things I'll be most proud of will be volunteering with Dogs Trust." She shared how the support from the Dogs Trust Merseyside team, both 2 and 4 legged, helped her through her mother's illness and loss. For Alison, the centre became a place of healing, proving that no matter how you're feeling, dogs have a way of making your day brighter."

Georgina Lowry, Rehoming Centre Manager at Dogs Trust Merseyside, says:- "This fantastic pair has been easing the pressure on the team for 20 years. The centre simply wouldn't be the same without them. The time they've dedicated to our dogs and the difference they've made to so many lives has never gone unnoticed."

To find out more and explore volunteering opportunities at Dogs Trust, see their website.

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Shop forced to close after selling illicit goods

Merseyside Couple Celebrate 20 Years of Volunteering for Dogs Trust This Volunteers' Week