20 year old Suran Karim became the first illegal cigarette seller in Islington to receive an ASBO last week ( 9 July 2005). The ASBO bans him from being in public with more than three packets of cigarettes and from offering to sell any tobacco products anywhere in England or Wales. <br><br>Karim, who lives in Haringey and sold cigarettes in the Nags Head area was given a three year Anti-social behaviour Order (ASBO) at Highbury Corner Magistrates. He has also been banned from a large area around the Nags Head. It is one of the first times that an ASBO has been used across England and Wales to deal with the problem illegal cigarette sellers.<br><br>The ASBO application was made by Islington Council with evidence provided by police from the Anti Social Behaviour Team - a partnership between Islington Council, the police and Homes for Islington and based at Islington Police Station. <br><br>Karim is one of a number of males whose behaviour has blighted the area in recent years by the, often, intimidating manner in which they go about selling their illegal wares.<br><br>Cllr Jyoti Vaja, executive member for housing and community safety said: “We are using every tool at our disposal to combat Anti-Social Behaviour at the Nags Head.<br><br>“Using an ASBO to deal with the illegal cigarette sellers was innovative and is part of an ongoing operation to provide an effective long term solution to a persistent problem in the area. Karim now faces a jail sentence if he is caught illegally selling cigarettes anywhere in the UK. <br><br>“Working with the police we will continue to listen to residents, businesses and shoppers to clean up the Nags Head and stop people being harassed by illegal cigarette sellers.” <br><br>Superintendent Mark Terry said: “This is yet another fantastic example of how the police together with our partners are working together to address the problems faced by the local community.”<br><br>New Anti-social behaviour legislation has enabled the police to tackle the problem in new ways and after months of necessary evidence gathering this first ASBO has been granted. The area is a Dispersal Area, allowing the police to move sellers out of the area. Trading standards officers are also targeting places where cigarettes are stored and seizing the goods. Recently the council have netted over £1,900 in fines in from illegal cigarette sellers.<br><br>“This is our first successful ASBO application against the cigarette sellers. I am pleased that the court acknowledged that this activity is anti-social and is a concern to local people," says Pc Anti-social Behaviour Team Andy Palmer <br><br>The police involved in policing the area are from Finsbury Park Safer Neighbourhood Team closely supported by the council.<br><br>Ends
Page Last Updated: 17 December 2009