More than 6,000 counterfeit cigarettes have been seized as part of a crackdown on rogue trading in Bury.
Over the past year Bury Police’s Partnership Team and Trading Standards have been spearheading a multi-agency operation to tackle rogue businesses for trading illicit tobacco, electricity abstraction, human trafficking and poor business practices.
The work sees the team use intelligence from the community, as well as officers, to build a case for enforcement action on businesses.
These days of action take place every month and on this particular day (Tuesday 22 November) the focus was on Bury Town Centre.
In total, nine convenience store-type businesses were visited where 6,000 counterfeit cigarettes were seized, 1.5kg of counterfeit loose tobacco and four premises closed on suspicion of electricity abstraction and environmental issues.
No one was arrested but enquiries remain ongoing.
Superintendent Paul Walker, District Commander for Bury Police, said: “Days of action such as this show how committed we are to tackling the concerns of residents.
“We will continue to work with partners to stamp out rogue trading or illicit behaviour by businesses.
“I want to say thank you to everyone who has been in touch with us – your information is vital to successful days such as this.
Lorraine Chamberlin, head of health and environmental protection at Bury Council, said: “Bury Council enforcement staff are happy to support these days of action which have revealed some concerning criminality and health and safety issues.
“We hope that this send a message out that rogue traders are not welcome in Bury.”

Police Appeal After Man Reports Rape in Slough
Keighley Drug Dealer Ordered to Pay Back £170,000
New Bike and Street Trading Rules Coming to Leeds City Centre
Bradford Homes, Hospital and Schools to Benefit from £9.7m Heat Network Expansion
Former Leeds Accountant Jailed for Five More Years Over Unpaid £490,000 Confiscation Order
Manningham Housing Association Achieves LGBTQ+ Housing Pledge Pioneer Status
Police Warn Over New Trend Offering Cash to Accept Parcels
Tributes Paid to Former Buckinghamshire High Sheriff Peter Kara
Calderdale House Builder Fined £300,000 After Worker Suffers Serious Spinal Injuries
Bradford Youth Orchestra Hits the Right Notes on German Tour
Remix Saturdays
Legal Show
Bhangra Nights
Alim OnAir