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Three packets the limit for street cigarette seller
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Court order bans illegal trader from streets around Nag’s
Head
AN illegal street trader faces jail if he is caught with more
than three packets of cigarettes in a public place.
Suran Karim, 20, has become the first illegal cigarette seller in
Islington to receive an Anti-Social Behaviour Order (Asbo) at Highbury
Corner Magistrates’ Court.
Under the ban imposed last week, Mr Karim, from Haringey, cannot
offer for sale any tobacco products anywhere in England or Wales.
The three-year order also bans him from streets around the Nag’s
Head in Holloway Road, where he was selling cigarettes.
The Asbo is believed to be one of the first in England and Wales
to deal with the problem of illegal cigarette sellers.
Islington Council made the application for the order with evidence
provided by police.
So far, the borough has shied away from the use of Asbos, instead
preferring to seek acceptable behaviour contracts, a voluntary procedure.
Asbos are seen as a way of curbing the activities of illegal cigarette
sellers, whose presence encourages petty street crime, according
to police.
Council officials say illegal trading has “blighted” the
Nag’s Head through the “intimidating” manner of cigarette
sellers.
Lib Dem councillor Jyoti Vaja, Islington’s Asbo supremo, said:
“We are using every tool at our disposal to combat anti-social
behaviour at the Nag’s Head.
“Using an Asbo to deal with the illegal cigarette sellers was
innovative and is part of an ongoing operation to provide an effective
long-term solution to a persistent problem in the area.
“Karim now faces a jail sentence if he is caught illegally
selling cigarettes anywhere in the UK.
“Working with the police, we will continue to listen to residents,
businesses and shoppers to clean up the Nag’s Head and stop
people being harassed by illegal cigarette sellers.”
Acting police borough commander, Chief Superintendent Mark Terry,
said: “This is yet another fantastic example of how the police,
together with our partners, are working to address the problems
faced by the community.”
The Nag’s Head is a designated dispersal area, allowing the
police to move sellers on without prior notice. Trading standards
officers are also targeting places where cigarettes are stored and
seizing goods.
Recently, illegal cigarette sellers have been fined more than £1,900.
PC Andy Palmer, of the Anti-Social Behaviour Team, said: “This
is our first successful Asbo application against the cigarette sellers.
I am pleased that the court acknowledged that this activity is anti-social
and is a concern to local people.” |
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