Wirral secures closure of 15 stores across the borough selling illegal or counterfeit goods. Tony McDonough reports

Wirral Council has successfully taken action against shops and their owners in the borough who continue to sell illegal or counterfeit goods.

Over the last six months the number of closure orders granted by the courts now stands at 15 following further action taken by Wirral trading standards, in partnership with Merseyside Police.

This latest action has resulted in three more premises being closed for an initial three months. On top of the 15 first time orders there have also been applications for extensions to existing closure orders.

The latest sees two shops owned by the same businessman ordered to remain closed until the end of July, after initially being closed in February.

Cllr Jenny Johnson, chair of the Tourism, Communities, Culture and Leisure Committee for Wirral Council, said: “Our trading standards service is absolutely committed to tackling anyone involved in these illegal operations.

“It is vital that we find and seize these goods to get them off the market and ultimately bring offenders to justice.

“These cut-price and unregulated products carry additional risks to consumers and are more accessible to underage customers – significantly undermining public health’s efforts around tobacco control and cessation.

“There are clear links between the illicit trade of cigarettes and wider organised crime and, of course, sales of illegal items have an adverse effect on the profits of other shops who do operate within the laws and regulations.”

The extension to closure orders were granted at the end of April and relate to Hoylake Mini Market on Hoylake Road, Moreton, and 7 Days 3D Store on Poulton Road, Wallasey. Both premises were originally closed in February 2026

Trading Standards officers outlined long-running concerns about the supply of illegal tobacco from the premises, describing activity spanning several years.

This operation was said to involve sophisticated concealment methods, including hidden compartments built into floors, ceilings and furniture. Some of these “hides” were reportedly secured using electromagnets wired into the buildings’ electrical systems.

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The latest first-time closure orders involved two shops in New Ferry where thousands of illegal cigarettes and large quantities of illicit tobacco were seized by enforcement officers.

Wirral Magistrates’ Court granted closure orders for Wirral Convenience Store on Bebington Road and AK2 Convenience Store on New Chester Road at a hearing on May 14, 2026.