Harrow Council’s Trading Standards team has prosecuted two businesses in Harrow for selling cigarettes to children and not displaying health warnings.
The TSK Cash and Carry and the Good Morning Superstore were caught as part of an undercover operation by Harrow Trading Standards and were fined a total of £2,000.
During the operation, Kathirshelvan Kalaginathan – an employee of TSK Cash and Carry in Alexander Avenue, Harrow – was caught selling cigarettes in a test purchasing exercise. Despite asking the customers’ ages, Kalaginathan continued to sell cigarettes to the Trading Standards volunteers – who were aged 14.
After the sale, Trading Standards officers questioned Mr Kalaginathan on the sale.
During a formal interview, he admitted he had sold cigarettes to children, but claimed he was “distracted” because he was on the phone.
At Willesden Magistrates’ Court, Kalaginathan was fined a total of £985.00, including costs.
In a separate case, the court heard how a routine inspection by HMRC officers of the Good Morning Superstore in Streatfield Road, Harrow had uncovered 33 packets of 20-pack cigarettes, five tobacco pouches and 105 chewing tobacco products hidden under the counter, without the correct heath warnings being displayed.
During a formal interview, the owner of the Good Morning Superstore –
Amrik Singh Arora – claimed that the tobacco products with no health warnings in English were purchased from a Sri Lankan man, whom he had never met before.
He told officers he had paid £180 for the packets of cigarettes and pouches –
and admitted that he knew the products were in breach of the law, which was why the cigarettes had been hidden.
At Willesden Magistrates’ Court, Amrik Singh Arora pleaded guilty and the company was ordered to pay a total of £1221.00 in fines.
Harrow Council’s councillor for crime and community safety, Councillor Graham Henson, said:
“It is simply unacceptable for individuals and businesses to trade in a way that puts the public at risk.
“It is also unfair to the majority of businesses who trade legitimately in our borough – the two businesses knowingly flouted the rules to make a quick buck and showed no care for the health of children.
“I am pleased with the outcome – and hope that it sends a strong message to other businesses who think they can operate this way.
“We regularly visit premises, and businesses who fail to comply with the rules will result in a hefty fine – or worse, risk their business being shut down.”
Duncan Lewis Criminal Solicitors
Duncan Lewis criminal solicitors can advise at any stage of a charge relating to consumer protection law, including selling tobacco without displaying a health warning, selling tobacco, alcohol or fireworks to children, selling or trading in counterfeit goods, weights and measures offences and selling food products not fit for human consumption.
There are Duncan Lewis offices nationwide and a criminal defence solicitor can attend interviews with prosecuting authorities such as the police, HMRC or Trading Standards.
For expert legal advice on consumer protection offences, call Duncan Lewis criminal solicitors on 0333 772 0409.
For 24/7 help at a police station, call the Duncan Lewis 24-Hour Emergency Helpline on 0333 772 0607.