Accrington shop removes from sale 'drug items'

Rohni Vij, owner of Abbey Street Shopping Centre, in Accrington, has returned pipes, grinding machines, branded tobacco tins, cannabis-logo pipe screens, cannabis-leaf ash trays and lighters he stocked in his shop to suppliers.

Mr Vij took steps after he was branded irresponsible by community leaders.

But Mr Vij, who said he did not want to upset anybody, maintains that he was not doing anything wrong or illegal.

And has advised customers who has issues with anything being sold in his shop to speak to him directly to resolve any problems.

Abbey Street Shopping Centre, in Accrington, sells scout, brownie and guide uniforms and is recommended to parents by schools.

The drugs related items were placed on the counter next to the till so his staff could control who bought them.

Mr Vij said: “We didn’t want to upset people and have sent the stock back to the supplier following complaints.

“I am anti-drugs and don’t like them.

“I have respected what other people have said about the items and I have removed them.

“I haven’t done anything wrong or illegal but I don’t want to upset my customers.

“If anyone has any problems I urge them to speak to me about it. We controlled who the items were sold to.

“If customers had come to me and told me I would have removed it.”

The store is recommended to parents by the majority of the schools in the area, and websites for Peel Park Primary, Accrington Academy and Accrington Benjamin Hargreaves list the store as the main local supplier.

Mr Vij - whose store also sells adult sports wear - said the grinders, besides being used for drugs, he were for grinding herbs and medicine.

Peter Britcliffe, Leader of Hyndburn Council, said: “We have to congratulate them for being socially responsible.

“I understand businesses are trying to make a living but it is excellent to see he is being socially responsible.

“He probably hadn’t thought much about it until it was highlighted to him. Well done to him.”