Allerton shop loses licence after becoming “a hub of criminality"
Police recently seized illicit cigarettes, suspected cannabis and nitrous oxide from the store on Saffron Drive
A SHOP that police have described as “a hub of criminality and a blight on the local community” has been stripped of its alcohol licence.
The shop, 103 Saffron Drive, most recently known as Allerton Off Licence, was raided by police and Trading Standards in late October, when officers found 237 packets of illicit cigarettes, bags of suspected cannabis behind the counter, weighing scales with cannabis residue on them and a cannister of nitrous oxide.
The shop also stocked vapes containing cannabis.
Shortly after, a three-month closure order was placed on the business – part of a parade of shops opposite St Matthews Catholic Primary School.
West Yorkshire Police also applied for the licence holder, Allerton Mini Market (Bradford) Ltd, to be stripped of its alcohol licence.
On Thursday a licence review went before Bradford Council’s Licensing Panel.
They were told the sole director of the company, Mahrwan Najat Mahmood, had a previous conviction for fraudulent evasion of duty but had failed to inform the Court that he was a personal licence holder and failed to inform the issuing Licensing Authority (Leicester Council) of his conviction.
Nobody from the company attended the meeting in Bradford City Hall to hear the damning evidence presented to the panel.
A report to members said both Police and Bradford Council’s Youth Services team had raised on going concerns about the premises and the impact its trading was having on the local community and children, in particular.
In late October there had been a test purchase conducted on the premises and a packet of illicit cigarettes had been sold for £4.
The police and trading standards raided the shop on October 29. The report said: “Whilst present on the premises, 237 individual packets of illicit cigarettes and 18 pouches of illicit hand rolled tobacco were discovered by Trading Standards.
“In addition, 79 unsafe items including cosmetics, toys, clothing and bicycle accessories were also seized by Trading Standards and investigations are ongoing regarding these items.
“Whilst on the premises, Police seized from behind the counter a quantity of clear bags containing cannabis bush and scales which had cannabis residue on them as well as a canister of nitrous oxide, better known as laughing gas.
“Also seized was a box of suspected vapes containing pure cannabis. The occupant of the shop was arrested for various offences, and the investigation is continuing into these alleged offences.”
PC Kevin Lord said: “The premises is a hub for criminality, a threat to safety, a danger to children and a blight on the local community.
“There is a persistent failure to uphold licensing objectives and a persistent disregard for the law and the wellbeing of the community.
“The premises regularly attracted intimidating individuals, causing fear locally.
“When we went to issue the closure order there, there were people gathered outside, with a cannabis smell in the air – it was a bit intimidating.”
Urging the panel to revoke the store’s alcohol licence, he said: “Criminal activity such as drug distribution and smuggled tobacco should be treated very seriously.
“Given the scale of the criminality and risk to public safety, I ask the panel to revoke the licence.”
Jason Bethall from Trading Standards, said: “This is not just a few duty free cigarettes. This is smuggling on a vast scale.”
Councillor Joanne Dodds (Lab, Great Horton) said: “It is really concerning to read that the youth service referring to the impact this business has had on young people in this area. It shows the impact this shop has had on the community.”
PC Lord referred to the fact that there can sometimes be public support for these criminal businesses, because they sell products for much cheaper than legitimate businesses.
He said: “People think it is like a Robin Hood, victimless crime. We’ve all read the comments ‘how can we afford cigarettes if they close this shop?’
“There is a greater threat of this organised crime – it helps fund people trafficking and illegal immigration.
“Some black market cigarettes have been found to contain human excrement, dead flies and asbestos.
“When it is sold at pocket money prices it is harder for people to give up smoking, and it makes it more likely for young people to take up smoking, which all leads to lots of preventable deaths.
“If this licence remains in place, the message is clear – crime pays. I urge you to send a different message out, that Bradford won’t tolerate criminality in the guise of legitimate trade.”
The panel voted to strip the business of its licence, with chair Councillor Sabiya Khan (Lab, Wibsey) saying: “The revocation is necessary to ensure the prevention of crime, disorder, to protect public safety, protection from nuisance and the protection of children from harm.”