Further Somercotes premises closed after illegal tobacco investigation
A second shop on Somercotes Hill has been shut down after Amber Valley Borough Council and Derbyshire Trading Standards uncovered illegal tobacco sales during a new enforcement operation.
Reports of illegal tobacco sales at a newly opened shop, Pit Shop, at 243 Somercotes Hill triggered swift action from Amber Valley Borough Council and Derbyshire County Council.
The investigation came after nearby Somercotes Store, at 249 Somercotes Hill, had already been closed in August 2025 under a three-month Closure Order for repeated illegal tobacco sales and anti-social behaviour.
Trading Standards carried out test purchases at Pit Shop, which confirmed the sale of illicit tobacco products. Amber Valley Borough Council officers then sought a further Closure Order to prevent continued offending and protect the community.
At a hearing on Tuesday 11 November, Southern Derbyshire Magistrates’ Court granted the Closure Order for 243 Somercotes Hill. The Court also agreed to extend the existing Closure Order at 249 Somercotes Hill.
Both shops must now remain closed until at least 4 February 2026. Neither premises may reopen before that date.
Derbyshire County Council Cabinet Member for Health and Communities, Councillor Dawn Abbott, said: “Our trading standards officers are working incredibly hard with our partners to crack down on sales of illegal cigarettes and tobacco and it is extremely disappointing and frustrating to see these shops flouting the law in this way.
“We are grateful to members of the public for continuing to give us information and we will continue to investigate and act to stamp out this illegal trading, which not only puts public health at risk but threatens the livelihoods of legitimate traders.
“Working hand in hand with Amber Valley Borough Council and Derbyshire Constabulary, we welcome these closure orders, and I’d like to thank everyone involved in this continuing very important work.”
Anyone with information about the sale of illegal tobacco can report it anonymously to Trading Standards via the Citizens Advice Consumer Helpline on 0808 223 1133 or to Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.
More News From Amber Valley Info
| Charity launches campaign to give 50-year-old South Normanton dinosaur a new lease of life Junction Arts is calling on local people to help restore Derek the Dinosaur, a much-loved read more | |
| Derbyshire families benefiting as Families First Partnership programme goes live across the county Children, young people and families across Derbyshire, including those with specia read more | |
| CCTV appeal after man suffers broken arm in Mackworth supermarket assault Derbyshire police have released CCTV images of a man officers want to speak to following an assault outside read more | |
| Warning over fraudulent calls from Derbyshire police Derbyshire Constabulary has issued a warning about fraudulent calls from people claiming to be police officers. read more | |
| Next round of Smokefree Community Grants opens for applications Voluntary and community organisations across Derbyshire are being invited to apply for grants to help them create smo read more | |
The Amber Valley Info Noticeboard
| Pottery Close Halloween Event Taking a Break This Year The popular Halloween event at Pottery Close will not take place this year, as the organisers have not had enough time to prep read more | |
| Food waste recycling is coming to Amber Valley From June 2026, Amber Valley Borough Council will introduce weekly food waste recycling across the borough as part of a phased roll-ou read more | |
| Stallholder Bookings Now Open For The Tansley Big Day Out We're excited to announce that Tansley's Big Day Out 2026 will take place on 6th & 7th June 2026! read more | |
| Christmas and New Year bin collection dates Over the festive season, bin collections will operate on revised schedules. Some collections may take place up to two days earlier than u read more | |
| Launch Of WOMBLE MANIA! At the Heights of Abraham, Opened by Marcus Robertson, Son of Wombles author, Elisabeth Beresford, officially launched WOMBLE MANIA! at the Heights of Abraha read more | |
