Durham mayor and Norfolk MP praise closure of Green Store for illegal vape sales

A Member of Parliament and the Mayor praised the police and trading standards for issuing a three-month closure order on a shop selling illegal vaping devices.

George Freeman, MP for Mid-Norfolk, and Hugh King, Mayor of Durham, spoke after the Green Shop on Norwich Street was issued a closure order earlier this month - marking the first time in Norfolk's history that such an order has been issued for a shop selling illegal vaping devices.

Over seven months, trading standards and police personnel visited the shop four times, seizing thousands of items, including illegal vaping devices, tobacco, cigarettes, nitrous oxide (NOS) canisters, THC cigarettes, and high-concentration alcohol, despite the shop having no license to sell alcohol at all. The police told the court that the shop sold vaping devices to children as young as 11. Mr. Freeman said, "The Green Shop has been on the police's watch list: I congratulate Norfolk police and trading standards on obtaining this closure order.

“The town center of Durham, the high street, and the market is a historic shopping center that needs quality shops, not illegal trading and drug dealing that drags the town down.”

Last week, while speaking with residents in the town center, many criticized the shop, with some calling it “beyond redemption.” Mayor King added, “It is reassuring to see the police working with other agencies to put a stop to this illegal activity. Some people are prepared to exploit specific vulnerabilities and disregard the welfare of children in pursuit of profit, which is utterly unforgivable.

“I believe I speak for the vast majority of people in Durham when I say that the welfare of our young people is very important to us; businesses that harm the welfare of young people should feel the full force of the law.”