A CONVENIENCE store could lose its licence after it reportedly breached 14 of its conditions.

Abracadabra in Christchurch high street has been accused of buying stolen goods and selling illegal vapes.

Concerns have also been raised about how the operator “engages with youths, especially young women”, and staff sleeping in the storeroom and manager’s office.

Dorset Police said the immigration service had provided additional information which “further heightened and amplified” the concerns.

The county force had requested a review of the premises licence currently in place for Abracadabra, which is believed to be trading as E&E at 3 High Street.

BCP Council’s licensing sub-committee discussed the application in a meeting on Wednesday, January 31.

Licensing officer Tania Jardim noted that a multi-agency approach had been taken with Dorset Police and Trading Standards visiting the store. 

Ms Jardim added Trading Standards had already seized illegal vapes from the store, and Dorset and Wiltshire Fire and Rescue Service had issued a prohibition notice to ban sleeping in the store.

Sergeant Gareth Gosling, of Dorset Police, said the force “experienced a repeated breach of conditions”, including issues with CCTV logs and staff training, despite warning letters issued.

He noted there had been “other sensitive issues” which couldn’t be mentioned during a public hearing.

The meeting was then made confidential for around 90 minutes.

Once back in public session, June Clark, representing Abracadabra, said: “We’ve heard lots and lots of information here, some of it which, I’m sorry I can’t agree with.”

“There's a lot of accusations and allegations in these statements, but at the end of the day, nothing has been brought to the table except for one video from years ago.”

Ms Clark said Abracadabra had breached seven licence conditions, not 14, and noted the staff passed two ‘test purchases’ by police and Trading Standards.

She continued: “Mr Mohammed [the premises licence holder] has seen the error in his ways, he’s quite sorry about what he’s done, he’s willing to learn.

“Things are not right, but the licence holder had no assistance from the police.”

Ms Clark noted that 24 hours’ notice hadn’t been given for licensing inspections by Dorset Police and Trading Standards.

Sergeant Gosling said: "Where we are investigating certain reports, we will go along with no notice and added police concerns remain."

He told the meeting: “The most serious issues, they do heighten our concerns to the point where we can only support the one outcome, which would be the revocation.”

A decision is yet to be made on the review application.