(Image: Stuart Boulton)
Darlington’s MP has warned “criminals aren’t welcome in this town” as she vowed to campaign for tougher powers to shut down vape shops and rogue businesses.
Labour MP Lola McEvoy has called for a licensing scheme for businesses selling vapes, saying councils need greater powers to know which businesses are operating.
Her comments came after she joined council officials during a crackdown on illegal tobacco and vapes at three premises in Darlington.
Ms McEvoy said she would lobby the Government for powers allowing councils to close problem businesses for up to 12 months.
She said: “We need a licensing scheme for any business registering in the town. We need to know who’s in the town, what sort of business they are doing and who they are.”
The MP said stronger links between agencies were also needed to tackle illegal tobacco sales and wider criminality.
“We need to make sure we have joined-up working between the police and trading standards, who do brilliant jobs together here in Darlington but also the other bodies in the country,” she said.
“We need to have an open conversation about the links between these, what are seen as low-level crimes like illegal cigarettes and the wider crime network in the country.
“Criminals aren’t welcome in this town.”
The crackdown comes as the Government moves towards giving councils greater control over new vape shops.
Prime Minister Andy Burnham has said retailers wanting to set up businesses selling e-cigarettes will need to seek permission from their local council under proposed changes to planning policy.
He said the aim was to give communities “the power to turn things around” and clamp down on businesses causing harm while supporting those to help bring life back to high streets.
Last month, three shops were ordered to close for three months after council raids.
Illegal cigarettes and hand-rolling tobacco worth almost £3,000 were seized from an unlocked vehicle linked to Vape City on Bondgate, while more than £5,000 of illicit goods were seized from Cherry Berry on Parkgate, according to Darlington Borough Council.
Closure notices were served on Red Market on Neasham Road, Romanian Shop on North Road and Vape City on Bondgate.
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The council said the action followed intelligence gathering into the supply of illegal vapes and cigarettes in Darlington, including their alleged sale to children.
A fourth premises, Pick & Pay on North Road, was also handed a three-month closure order earlier this month.
Normal retail shops, including those selling cigarettes, currently do not need a specific licence to open and trade and current national legislation does not allow permanent closure of premises. Magistrates can impose an initial closure order of up to three months, with a further three-month extension available if required.