Police close Wolverhampton city centre shop which was 'hot spot' for drug-related activity
A notice was served on the shop earlier this week and on Thursday, Walsall magistrates granted a three-month closure order.
A shop in Wolverhampton city centre has been closed by police following reports of criminal activity.
West Midlands Police has closed The Hair Shop in Lichfield Street following reports of the sale of illegal vapes and links with anti-social behaviour and alleged drug dealing.
A notice was served on the shop earlier this week and on Thursday, Walsall magistrates granted a three-month closure order.
Working with Trading Standards and Wolverhampton Local Authority Children’s Services, Wolverhampton Police applied for the court order to prevent people engaging in criminal activity and young people being exposed to harmful products.
In April officers from the force’s serious organised crime team and local neighbourhood officers visited the shop with Wolverhampton Trading Standards and discovered a concealed rear storeroom, behind wigs hung on the wall.
They seized suspected cannabis recovered from the premises and arrested two men for possession with intent to supply drugs.
The men are currently on bail as investigations continue.
Wolverhampton city centre Inspector Sophie Clement said: "The focus of our activity is always to reduce crime and disorder and make the city feel a safer place.
"We were made aware of illicit activity at this shop which was creating a hot spot for drug-related activity, and we were concerned that young people were being put at risk.
"Working with partners at Trading Standards, our teams have taken action to close this business premises, our primary goal to protect the young people of our city and deter criminality like this which puts an illegal business ahead of the safety of our wider community."