Torched legal-high shop was trading without correct licence

The South Invercargill legal-high shop targeted by arsonists 12 days ago had been trading without the appropriate licence, authorities say.

The shop traded without a licence for more than seven weeks until last week, Psychoactive Substances Regulatory Authority manager Dr Donald Hannah said.

No decision had been made on whether Impuls'd shop owner Warren Skill would be prosecuted.

The authority, part of the Ministry of Health, is responsible for ensuring products meet safety requirements before they are sold, and also licenses importers, manufacturers, wholesalers and retailers.

Dr Hannah said Mr Skill was told on February 14 to cease selling herbal highs while his retail licence was considered further.

The ''advice was further reiterated'' last week when the authority learnt Mr Skill was continuing to trade.

The shop was attacked by arsonists early on April 4.

A man was seen on CCTV footage breaking the front window with a baseball bat before a second man tossed a ''fireball'' through the window.

Minor damage was caused.

By the next day, sales were being made to a steady stream of customers from a makeshift sales area at the back door.

Last Friday a notice appeared on the front window of the shop saying it was closed while the Ministry of Health considered Mr Skill's licence application and apologising for the inconvenience.

On Monday it was replaced by another notice saying the shop was open and to go to the back door for sales and inquiries.

A staff member said on Monday the shop was open but no psychoactive substances were being sold.

Sachets of legal-high products were on show in display cabinets.

One young man who arrived on a bicycle was angry when told he could not buy legal highs.

''So what are you selling?'' he said, uttering expletives while riding off.

The staff member said he could sell any of the other items on display, which included cigarette papers, filters, pipes, watches and earrings, but ''no-one was buying anything''.

Southern district operations manager Inspector Lane Todd said on Monday police were working with the Ministry of Health and sharing information about activity at Mr Skill's shop.

''We are closely monitoring the shop and there is no evidence he is trading illegally,'' he said.

His understanding was Mr Skill could still sell products other than legal highs.

Dr Hannah said the community played a vital role in policing the psychoactive substances legislation and asked people to contact the police about legal highs being sold from unlicensed or prohibited premises, or being sold to those under 18.

He asked them to phone the police or the psychoactive substances hotline, 0800 789 652.

Mr Skill did not return telephone calls.

The Invercargill city, Southland district and Gore district councils are producing a combined Local Approved Products Policy that will determine where properly licensed legal highs shops can be situated in the region.

Submissions closed on Monday.

- Allison Beckham

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