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Local business served closure notice following illegal tobacco investigation and sale of unsafe food products
Barnsley Council’s Trading Standards and Legal Services teams have successfully obtained a closure order from the court for a local business for a range of criminal offences, including the sale of illicit tobacco, illegal vapes and unsafe food products.
Lidia Mini Market, trading from 126-128 Sheffield Road, has been ordered to close for three months following a decision at Barnsley Magistrates’ Court earlier today (Thursday 11 December).
This comes following repeated visits to the business to check they were complying with product legislation and an investigation into the suspected distribution of illegal tobacco.
Joining forces with South Yorkshire Police for some visits, this is a great example of how we’re working with our partners to keep our communities safe from potentially dangerous products.
Under the Anti-Social Behaviour, Crime and Policing Act 2014, local authorities have the power to ask courts to issue closure orders to businesses considered to be causing a nuisance to the public, helping to prevent these activities from continuing or recurring.
Since October 2024, our Trading Standards team found the business breaking key legislation designed to safeguard our communities and failing to comply with improvement notices:
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220,824 illegal cigarettes and hand rolling tobacco products that did not comply with UK safety standards have been seized and recovered as part of visits and joint operations with South Yorkshire Police.
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Food items were being sold without the correct labelling in English or the name and address of a business in the UK, compromising food safety standards, including allergy information. Improvement notices were issued to remove these products from sale until they could be relabelled, but follow-up visits found this was not being adhered to.
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Illegal vapes were seized that did not comply with the Tobacco and Related Products Regulations 2016, such as being over capacity or not including UK trading details.
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Disposable vapes continued to be sold after the introduction of the national ban in June, some of which featured designs that could compromise child safety.
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Failed test purchases of illegal cigarettes that did not comply with UK safety standards.
Councillor Wendy Cain, Cabinet Spokesperson for Public Health and Communities, said: “Our teams are committed to protecting Barnsley residents from harm, whether that be through tackling the sale of unsafe food, illegal tobacco products or counterfeit goods.
“Businesses have a legal duty to make sure the products they sell are safe and comply with the right legislation, such as health warnings on cigarettes and allergy information on food. Failing to do so not only puts the public at risk but also undermines legitimate traders.
“We’re here to support businesses to comply with laws and regulations, but this case sends a clear message that illegal trading will not be tolerated, and we will take action. I would like to thank our Trading Standards and Legal Services teams as well as South Yorkshire Police for all their hard work on this case to protect our communities.”
Our Trading Standards team are committed to tackling the sale of illicit tobacco and keeping unsafe products off our shelves.
If you see anything suspicious or have any information about the sale of counterfeit goods, including illegal tobacco and vapes, please get in touch with the team by emailing RegulatoryServices@barnsley.gov.uk or calling 01226 773743.
We’d also like to encourage any businesses who have any questions or need any advice on the legislation, including correct food labelling, to contact the team by emailing RegulatoryServices@barnsley.gov.uk or calling 01226 773743.
