Secured: Closure orders extended for two Stockton-on-Tees shops
Two shop premises found to be selling illicit and counterfeit tobacco have had their closure orders extended.
Stockton-on-Tees Borough Council secured the Closure Order extensions at Teesside Magistrates Court yesterday, Wednesday March 11.
The shops at Westbury Shop, 103 Westbury Street, Thornaby and Norton Vape, 274 Norton Road, Stockton-on-Tees, were originally closed for three months on December 18, 2025.
Items secured from these premises and via test purchases contravened the Standardised Packaging of Tobacco Products Regulations 2015, the Tobacco and Related Products Regulations 2016 and the Trade Marks Act 1994. Illicit cigarettes were also being sold to children.
Both shops will remain closed for another three months after the Court heard that it was likely that illicit and counterfeit tobacco would continue to be sold should they reopen.
In both cases, and despite continued efforts from the Trading Standards team, registered landlords have not engaged with the Council to give assurances that criminal and anti-social behaviour recorded at the shops would cease at the premises.
Councillor Norma Stephenson, Stockton-on-Tees Borough Council's Cabinet Member for Access, Communities and Community Safety, said: "These shops have been the source of repeated illicit and counterfeit tobacco sales.
"Our Trading Standards team worked hard to secure the last closure orders in December and since then have been trying to engage with the landlords to find out what their intentions are.
"This has been a frustrating process, and we have been given no information or assurances to show that the premises will be run legally.
"Our top priority is the health and safety of our residents and that is why we have applied for and secured these extensions today. We hope this reminds people that we will take action against those who flout the law in selling illicit and counterfeit tobacco."
To report the sale of illegal cigarettes and vapes contact the Council's Trading Standards team by calling 01642 526560 or emailing trading.standards@stockton.gov.uk or report illegal tobacco sales quickly and anonymously by visiting the Keep it Out reporting website.
This work was carried out as part of Operation Cece, which is run in partnership with the National Trading Standards and HMRC to help tackle the sales of illicit tobacco.
Lord Michael Bichard, Chair, National Trading Standards, said: "The trade in illegal tobacco harms local communities and affects honest businesses operating within the law.
"Having removed 27 million illegal cigarettes, 7,500kg of hand rolling tobacco and almost 175kg of shisha products from sale, the National Trading Standards initiative in partnership with HMRC continues to successfully disrupt this illicit trade."
