Northampton supermarket faces losing licence after police concerns over illegal booze

A supermarket that had £3,500 of illegal booze seized by police is facing losing its licence for good.
The D-Light Supermarket in NorthamptonThe D-Light Supermarket in Northampton
The D-Light Supermarket in Northampton

D-Light Convenience Store, on Kettering Road, had had its licence to sell alcohol suspended earlier this year after officers raised concerns over illegal workers being employed at the premises, and the sale of illicit tobacco.

But the premises failed to stay out of trouble, and the shop was found to be continuing to sell alcohol despite the suspension following three test purchases that were made by plain-clothed officers on May 5.

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And enforcement officers swooped on the building the following day and seized £3,500 worth of alcohol and a number of illicit cigarettes and tobacco were also taken.

That discovery had called for the police to ask for the licence to be reviewed once again, with Licensing Sergeant Simon Moreton stating at the time that the store was ‘blatantly selling alcohol illegally’ despite ‘explicitly’ being warned not to do so.

Now members of Northampton Borough Council’s licensing committee will determine a request from the police, submitted on May 28, calling for them to revoke the licence altogether.

It is understood the virtual meeting, which takes place next Tuesday (July 14), will also hear a representation from Northamptonshire Fire & Rescue Service.

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Announcing its swoop on the store in May, Sgt Moreton added: “Many licensed premises work very hard to maintain good standards in their shops so it is important to make it clear to those that don’t that we won’t tolerate it in Northamptonshire.”