A Streatham shop owner who sold cigarettes to an underage boy has been fined £500.

Harpreet Singh, who owns Bola Bros Off Licence, Streatham High Road, sold the cigarettes to the boy without asking for any ID during a test purchasing operation run by Lambeth Council’s Trading Standards team in December.

Lambeth Council Trading Standards officers regularly conduct 'test-purchase' operations, using teenage volunteers to visit shops and off licences which may be willing to sell alcohol, tobacco or knives to people who appear under 18 and who have no valid ID.

Mr Singh pleaded guilty to the offence, under Section 7 of the Children and Young Persons Act 1933 at Camberwell Green Magistrates’ Court on 26th April 2011. As well as the £500 fine he was ordered to pay costs to the council of £300.

Councillor Lorna Campbell, the council’s cabinet member for environment and sustainability, said: “There is simply no excuse for shopkeepers or their staff who sell cigarettes, alcohol or other age restricted goods such as knives to people who are underage. Shopkeepers must ask for appropriate ID if there is any doubt whatsoever that the person is underage."

Anyone has information about the underage sale of cigarettes, alcohol, knives or other age restricted goods, should contact Lambeth Trading Standards on 020 7926 6102 or tradingstandards@lambeth.gov.uk.