Police want to revoke a corner shop’s alcohol licence after reports it was sold to children and 86 illegal vapes were seized from the premises.

An application has been made to Swale Borough Council by Kent Police after concerns were raised around Best One on Hawthorn Road in Sittingbourne.

Officers visited the shop, with council workers and trading standards, on July 27 to investigate reports that alcohol, tobacco products and vapes were being sold to people who were underage.

The owners does have a licence to sell alcohol. But during the visit Roopesh Kapoor told them Vijay Kapoor - the designated premises supervisor (DPS) under the licence - had retired three years ago.

The conditions of their licence mean all alcohol sales in the shop for the past three years are therefore illegal.

Officers also seized 86 illegal vapes.

When Roopesh applied to become both personal licence holder and the DPS, Kent Police objected.

Kent Police’s evidence to the council says it “has had a number of reports of age restricted sales to persons under 18.”

It aded: “However at this time, no confirmed sales have taken place from the premises prior to June 2023.”

“Trading Standards officers present seized a total of 86 illegal vape products, as well as identifying a product containing Isopropyl Nitrate which can be sold as a room odouriser, but is also used as a ‘popper’”

SBC’s licensing committee will meet at 10am on Tuesday October 10 to review the licence.