Droylsden shop closed by court after persistently breaking rules

A DROYLSDEN shop has been closed by a court after a string of rule breaches, including selling illegal vapes and tobacco.

Amsterdam Off Licence, on Market Street, was consistently non-compliant in relation to various licensing, waste management and trading standards matters, along with other criminality.

It had been subject to two premises licence reviews, now a court has ordered it to close for three months.

In December 2022, following an Our Streets day of action by Tameside Council, a compliance visit was carried out after a pile of bags belonging to the premises was found outside.

Officers found a car at the rear of the premises that was being used to store illicit tobacco and drugs.

Amsterdam’s licence was subsequently reviewed and suspended for three months with conditions attached.

New owners continued to operate the business in a non-compliant manner and sold illegal vapes and tobacco.

Trading Standards made several seizures and in September 2023, a car was again found parked at the rear of the shop containing a large quantity of illegal goods.

In December that year, its licence was revoked and an attempt in July by Sami Changa Jafar to gain new licence was turned down after representations from licensing, trading standards, public health and Greater Manchester Police.

Despite that, the shop continued to sell alcohol, illicit tobacco and illegal vapes – leading to Tameside Council securing a closure order at Stockport Magistrates Court on Friday, October 18.

Even when it was served a day earlier, officers seized more illicit tobacco, including 2,500 cigarettes and 30 pouches of tobacco.

Amsterdam Off Licence must now close for three months and investigations are continuing with regards to other matters concerning the premises.

A Tameside Council spokesperson said: “These premises have persistently broken laws and continued to sell alcohol despite no longer having a licence, as well as selling illicit tobacco and illegal vapes.

“We won’t hesitate to take action against traders who are operating illegally or breaching licensing conditions, in order to protect our residents and prevent harm to the community.

“This case again shows the importance of the council’s Our Streets campaign in tackling concerns and helping improve our communities.”

Tameside’s Police Licensing Officer Craig Foley worked in partnership with Tameside Council’s Licensing Team to obtain the Closure Order.

He said: “The partnership approach, along with our communities’ input through reporting and understanding, hopefully highlights we are all committed to continue tackling this kind of disruptive behaviour that has a criminal element to it.”