On 20 March 2026, a court ordered a shop in Swindon, Wiltshire, to stay shut for three months after officers found thousands of pounds worth of illegal tobacco. Officers from Wiltshire Police raided the Lavy store on Commercial Road on 19 March after people reported concerns about suspicious activity at the shop.
Two men were arrested on suspicion of selling fake goods after officers seized cash and a large stock of cigarettes and tobacco. According to PC Paul Bezzant, the items would have been worth more than £21,000 if they had been genuine products sold at standard retail prices.
A judge at the Swindon Magistrate’s Court issued the legal order to keep the building closed until at least July 2026. This means anyone who enters the shop before the order ends could face prosecution.
This case is part of a wider effort by the police and Wiltshire Council, who have shut down at least 10 businesses for similar offences since 2024. The town centre remains a focus for police patrols to help reduce shoplifting and anti-social behaviour.
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