Date published: 5 June 2026
Two convenience stores in Evesham have been handed three-month closure orders after being repeatedly found selling illegal cigarettes, tobacco and vapes with a retail value of more than £269,000.
International Mini Market and Super Mini Market, both based in Port Street, were ordered to close by Kidderminster Magistrates’ Court on Wednesday, 3 June under section 80 of the Anti‑Social Behaviour, Crime and Policing Act 2014. Both businesses had already been given temporary 48-hour closure notices by council officers on Monday, 1 June.
Pictured: The outside of the two shops closed following legal action.
The action was brought by Worcestershire Regulatory Services, acting on behalf of Wychavon, and followed an extensive investigation by officers from Worcestershire County Council Trading Standards, supported by the Evesham Safer Neighbourhood policing team.
Over a two-year period, officers carried out 16 raids seizing more than 10,300 packs of cigarettes, more than 1,800 packets of hand-rolled tobacco and 3,119 non-compliant vapes from both stores collectively.
Both stores were also caught selling a vape to an underage person during test purchase operations.
The three-month closure order can be extended by up to three months if it is believed there is a risk criminal activity may begin again. A review of the premises licence for both stores will also be carried out which may remove their ability to sell alcohol and tobacco, should they choose to reopen in the future.
Closure-orders are used to stop persistent criminal activity, serious nuisance or disorder when other enforcement options have failed.
Worcestershire Regulatory Services have completed seven total Closure Orders across the county in the last 18-months, including those in the Bromsgrove and Redditch areas. Previously, two further orders had been sought in Wyre Forest with support from Police solicitors.
Cllr Rick Deller, Wychavon’s Executive Board Member for Housing, Regulatory and Customer Services, said: “It is great to see this partnership work in action. It highlights that illegal activity has no place on our high streets, and that we are focused on creating spaces where legitimate businesses can thrive in an honest trading environment, supplying legitimate goods to residents.”
Simon Wilkes, Head of Worcestershire Trading Standards, added: “Successfully securing these closure orders shows the continued determination from our Trading Standards Officers to crack down on illegal tobacco and non-compliant vape products. Law-abiding businesses often tell us they can lose up to £1,000 a week in sales when this sort of illegal activity is operating in the area.
“We cannot allow organised crime to thrive on our High Streets and we thank our district colleagues for supporting the work of the team. “
Safer Neighbourhood Inspector for Evesham Dave Wise said: “We recognise the frustration felt by communities when premises continue to trade illegally despite joint efforts to raid stores, seize counterfeit goods and disrupt those responsible.
“These three-month closure orders, secured by Trading Standards with support from West Mercia Police, are an important step in delivering a lasting solution. Businesses operating illegally undercut genuine traders, undermine public health, and are often linked to wider organised criminality.
“Illegal trading will not be tolerated.”
Powers under the Anti-social Behaviour, Crime and Policing Act 2014 are only available to district councils and the police. In circumstances where county council Officers identify situations where the application of these powers such as closure are required, they must work with district colleagues or police solicitors to achieve this. The districts, working through their shared regulatory service and Worcestershire County Council have developed this innovative partnership approach to deliver closures in two-tier areas.
Pictured: Some of the illegal items seized during one of the raids.