Hartlepool Council Branded "The Laughing Stock Of Teesside" as Closure Order Fails to Stop illegal Trading.....

Two stores were handed closure orders on the 17th December, only for them to set up just yards away from where they were forced out of business.

Scale of the cost of orders to close businesses in just one Hartlepool Street raising questions over whether Hartlepool Borough Councils approach to dealing with organised crime is woefully ineffective ....

18th December 2024

Hartlepool Borough Council's been branded as the Laughing Stock of Teesside, after spending thousands of taxpayer pounds securing closure orders on two properties, only for the suspected culprits to move just a few doors down and resume business as usual. Critics say this failure highlights the council’s inability to effectively tackle criminal activity and manage public funds responsibly.

Its claimed the workers of the two businesses closed down by Teesside Court & Hartlepool Borough Council have moved into this new premises, just yards from where they were ousted from

On December 17, 2024, Hartlepool Borough Council obtained three-month closure orders at Teesside Magistrates’ Court for two properties at 15 and 40 Murray Street, suspected of involvement in illegal activity. Yet within just hours of the orders being granted, individuals linked to the premises reportedly relocated their operations a short distance away, continuing their trade with apparent impunity.

This turn of events has led many to brand Hartlepool Borough Council as a “laughing stock” across Teesside. Reports suggest the council has already spent between £10,000 and £15,000 in legal fees securing closure orders on four shops allegedly operated by the same individuals on Murray Street. Additional taxpayer funds have been poured into securing extensions on existing orders to prevent other premises from being used for similar criminal purposes.

The ongoing saga has sparked concerns about the council’s approach to tackling organised crime in the town. Critics argue the current strategy is ineffective, especially when faced with claims that these businesses are being used to launder profits from illegal activities, including the sale of untaxed e-cigarettes and tobacco.

The lack of Leadership & Strategy couldn't be any more apparent....

Calls are said to be growing for the council to adopt a more robust, multi-agency approach to address the scale of criminality in Hartlepool. Many residents point to the council’s 2023 designation as an “authority of no public confidence” as evidence that it lacks the leadership and strategy needed to address serious issues plaguing the town.

Labour Councillor Karen Oliver, chair of the council’s Neighbourhood Services Committee, defended the council’s actions in a statement:

"For some time, Trading Standards have been engaged in an incredibly frustrating game of cat and mouse with those involved in this illicit trade, who switch from shop to shop each time a Closure Order is granted. Having multiple Closure Orders in place at the same time means there are now fewer premises available, reducing the options open to those intent on breaking the law. We will, however, continue to face challenges while landlords allow their premises to be used for criminal activity, and we are now actively exploring ways to take action against them too.”

A never ending cycle of Legal Action

However, Councillor Oliver’s assurances have done little to quell public frustration. Just a day after the closure orders were issued, reports emerged that those connected to the shuttered shops had simply moved their stock and equipment down the road to a new location. This latest development underscores growing disillusionment with the council’s ability to deliver tangible results whilst using taxpayers’ money to fund what many see as a never-ending cycle of legal action....