Police raise concerns over shop's licence bid

The council rejected past applications due to illegal sales, licensing breaches and "criminality" at the store

Police have raised concerns about a Derbyshire shop's application to sell alcohol after it was caught breaking licensing rules a number of times in the space of seven months.

Balvinder Singh, who owns Ilkeston Store, has applied to Erewash Borough Council for a licence to sell alcohol from the premises in Bath Street, Ilkeston.

Council documents state a previous application for the shop to sell alcohol from employee Gagandeep Singh in April was refused due to concerns alcohol, vapes and tobacco were being sold from the shop unlawfully.

Councillors will now consider a new application to sell alcohol at a meeting of Erewash Borough Council's licensing and public protection panel on 28 October.

PC Jacob Callow, from Derbyshire Police, said that Balvinder Singh had claimed the latest application was for a "completely new business" unaffiliated with the previous application and Gagandeep Singh, who is his son.

However, when Mr Callow visited the store two hours later he found Gagandeep sitting behind the counter, according to the Local Democracy Reporting Service (LDRS).

In a statement to the council's licensing panel, PC Callow wrote: "Balvinder admitted the business wasn't making much money, as it was only selling chocolate and sweets.

"He admitted that he was not spending much time at the premises due to it not being very profitable.

"This was something which would change, if the premises obtained its premises licence.

"Balvinder stated that he intended to buy alcohol from the Birmingham area, where he could source it much cheaper than the local area. He would then ship it to the Ilkeston Store and sell it for a profit."

He added: "As a licensing enforcement officer, I came away from the meeting concerned that there had not been sufficient change since the first application in April 2025."

Mr Callow said he came away from the meeting "concerned" that there had not been sufficient change since the first application in April 2025.

"I believe that if this premises was granted a premises licence it would hinder the efforts made by the safer neighbourhood team and undermine the licensing objectives," he wrote.

Police and licencing officers also raised a number of other concerns, including granting the licence would increase problems with street drinking in the area.

An officer had also found a camp bed, toothbrush and toothpaste in a back room of the shop, although Mr Singh and his son had denied anyone was sleeping there.

Council documents also state the borough's licensing manager found the store was selling alcohol illegally while walking home from work in April and the store owner was caught selling a vape to an underage child during a test purchase operation.

In addition illicit tobacco was found under the till, alcoholic spirits were found in the rear of the store and 50 cans of beer were found in a van to the back of the shop.

Council officers have not made a recommendation on whether the licence to sell alcohol from 09:00 to 21:00 should be granted.