Key Points
- Wirral Council secured three-month closure orders for four shops due to criminal activity concerns.
- Orders issued by Sefton Magistrates Court prohibit entry to premises including Birko on Grange Road West in Birkenhead until 23 April.
- Shops linked to illegal sales of vapes, counterfeit goods, fake cigarettes, and items sold to under-18s.
- Police raids uncovered DIY chute, fake cigarettes, vapes, and counterfeit soft toys at one site.
Wirral (Liverpool Standard) February 4, 2026 – Four shops across the Wirral borough have been banned from trading for three months following court orders granted by Sefton Magistrates Court over links to criminal activity.
Closure notices were posted on 21 January at premises targeted by Wirral Council, which sought judicial intervention to address public safety issues including antisocial behaviour and illegal trading.
What led to the closure orders?
Wirral Council took legal action against multiple shops after evidence emerged of criminal behaviour, including the sale of counterfeit goods and vapes to minors. Birko on Grange Road West in Birkenhead received a closure order on 22 January, barring access to the shop and the flat above until 23 April. According to Birkenhead News, the premises had been raided twice by police, with officers forcing entry to seize a DIY chute, fake cigarettes, vapes, and counterfeit Labubus soft toys.
As reported by Fiona Fitzgerald of Wirral Council, the area around the shop experiences 15% of all crimes on Wirral, alongside issues of alcoholism and antisocial behaviour. Business owner Amanji Bakhtyarpanah and landlord Manh Linh Pham did not attend the 22 January hearing.
Which other premises were affected?
Additional closures targeted sites linked to leaseholder Khalid Omar Mohammed on Telegraph Road, where an eviction notice was issued on 20 January despite his contesting the order; the shop remains shut until 3 February. Trading Standards visits highlighted repeated violations at premises run by Goran Salah, though representatives claimed he was not directly involved in operations. Birkenhead News detailed council evidence presented to landlords and courts to justify the measures.
What evidence supported the council’s case?
Council submissions to Sefton Magistrates Court described the shops as causing ongoing nuisance and harm to the public through criminal links, prompting the need for closure orders. Magistrates heard reports of underage sales and forced police entries during raids.
What happens next for these businesses?
The three-month bans aim to prevent further harm, with premises sealed against entry. Landlords and owners face ongoing legal proceedings, including contested evictions. Wirral Council continues its crackdown on illegal trading, as seen in actions against six premises for vape and tobacco sales violations reported on 3 February.
Authorities emphasise that such measures protect communities from crime hotspots in the borough.
