Shop labelled 'criminality hub' by PC loses licence

A shop in Bradford described as "a hub for criminality" by a police officer has been stripped of its alcohol licence.

Allerton Off Licence has been closed since October after a raid uncovered hundreds of packets of counterfeit cigarettes, along with "illegal vapes and cannabis", according to those behind the crackdown.

A licence review went before Bradford Council's licensing panel on Thursday, with the panel voting to revoke the shop on Saffron Drive's licence.

Councillor Sabiya Khan, chair of the panel, said: "The revocation is necessary to ensure the prevention of crime, disorder, to protect public safety, protection from nuisance and the protection of children from harm."

Police and Trading Standards raided the shop on 29 October, with a report stating: "Whilst present on the premises, 237 individual packets of illicit cigarettes and 18 pouches of illicit hand rolled tobacco were discovered.

"Police seized from behind the counter a quantity of clear bags containing cannabis bush and scales which had cannabis residue on them."

It added: "Also seized was a box of suspected vapes containing pure cannabis. The occupant of the shop was arrested for various offences and the investigation is continuing into these alleged offences."

PC Kevin Lord said: "The premises is a hub for criminality, a threat to safety, a danger to children and a blight on the local community.

"The premises regularly attracted intimidating individuals, causing fear locally."

According to the Local Democracy Reporting Service, no representatives from the store attended the meeting at Bradford City Hall.

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