Preston shop faces licence review after 'sale of illicit products'

County Hall trading standards officers supported by Lancashire Police have listed a number of issues with the sale of alcohol at the Krakow store on New Hall Lane.

They say shop bosses have shown a “flagrant and systematic disregard” for regulations.

A licence review hearing will take place next week with members of the city council’s licensing committee able to recommend enforcement action.

Shop bosses will also be able to put their case forward to the committee.

A report by police licensing officer Julie Stewart details that officers have investigated the use of illegal workers and the sale of illicit cigarettes on the premises in recent years.

The report reads: “The local team regularly patrol the park and car park area across the road...drinkers congregate in this area purchasing alcohol from the shop and whilst under the influence of alcohol cause anti-social behaviour including noise nuisance, littering and urinating.”

A “history of poor management” is also highlighted.

An additional document submitted for the hearing from Preston City Council’s environmental health team includes images of “excessive littering from empty eastern European lager/beer cans in the nearby vicinity, originating from the premises.”

Options open to the committee include revoking the licence or suspending it for up to three months.

They can also modify conditions of the licence to help crackdown on the issues raised or remove the designated premises supervisor.

According to a trading standards report “illicit products have been purchased, or seized, by officers on 10 separate occasions since June 2015, representing “a history of prolific illegal activity at the premises.”