This is the dramatic moment a vape shop owner was pinned to the floor and arrested by four police officers for flouting the coronavirus lockdown.
Ian Grave, 45, kept his business open in St Helens, Merseyside claiming he provided a key service selling products which help people give up smoking.
But four officers arrived at his Dog House Vaping Co store last Thursday and told a staff member working there she had to shut up shop immediately.
She rang Mr Grave who drove to the shop and asked the police why he had to close.
Following an argument, Mr Grave was bundled to the floor and carted off in a police van.
Ian Grave, 45, was arrested after keeping his business open in St Helens, Merseyside. He claimed he was providing a key service selling products which help people give up smoking
Mr Grave was pinned to the ground by four police officers following an argument. He claimed his shop was providing a ‘vital service’ but officers disagreed
Speaking afterwards, he said: ‘I thought we were doing everything right, I only had one member of staff in and we only let one customer in at a time and then wiped down every time.
‘I think we’re providing a vital service selling nicotine products. Off licences are still allowed to stay open, so why not us? You can also go to DIY stores, are nails essential?
‘But they turned up and said we had to shut. I asked under what law did I have to close and they didn’t know.’
Only stores selling ‘essential goods’ such as supermarkets, pharmacies, post offices and hardware stores have been told they can remain open during the national fightback against the illness.
But some high street vaping shops are sidestepping the emergency rules and staying open by claiming they are healthcare retailers.
Mr Grave accused the police of being too aggressive as they pushed him to the ground and arrested him.
He added: ‘It was totally over the top. They twisted my arm up my back, I was in agony.
‘When I got to the station they didn’t know what to charge me with. On the board where they write things like “mugging” or “burglary”, for me, they wrote something like ‘shopkeeper’.
‘I was in a cell for a couple of hours before they let me leave. To be fair the officers in the station were great, it was just the ones who came to the shop.’
Only stores selling ‘essential goods’ such as supermarkets, pharmacies, post offices and hardware stores have been told they can remain open during the national fightback against the illness. But Mr Grave said he should be allowed to stay open (he is pictured getting arrested)
Shops face ‘unlimited’ fines for breaching the lockdown under sweeping powers given to police and councils last week to stop the virus spreading.
The Chartered Institute of Environmental Health, whose members work for councils, and are responsible for enforcing the new rules, said:
‘There does seem to some confusion over what should be closed and what shouldn’t. Vaping shops are self-identifying as health care and staying open.
‘Our people are getting in touch with businesses to ask them what grounds they are open because there seems to be a feeling the legislation is open to misinterpretation.
‘We’re finding quite a few businesses open when they should be closed, and closing when we catch them and saying they will stay closed and then re-opening the next day.’
Four officers arrived at Mr Grave’s Dog House Vaping Co store last Thursday and told a staff member working there she had to shut up shop immediately. She rang Mr Grave who drove to the shop and asked the police why he had to close. Following an argument, Mr Grave was bundled to the floor and carted off in a police van (left and right, his tussle with police)
The UK vaping industry has urged the Government to exempt its outlets, claiming it would be a counterproductive move that could place a further strain on the NHS.
In other acts of defiance, people have climbed over 6ft high fences or torn them down to reach park gyms and police have had to reinstall the cordons.
But a snapshot survey by institute members has found that the vast majority of businesses and people are complying with the lockdown.
A spokesman added: ‘Small businesses are also really struggling to introduce social distancing measures and people have been complaining about it. We’re reminding businesses about their legal obligations because there does seem to be confusion among the smaller businesses.
‘We’ve already served two prohibition notices and expect that others will follow. We’ve also experienced widespread cases of the public tearing down ‘do not use’ signs and ‘keep out’ tape around park gyms.’
A Merseyside police spokesperson said: ‘We can confirm a 45-year-old man was arrested on suspicion of operating a non-essential business following inquiries in Thatto Heath on Thursday March 26.
‘He has been released under investigation while our enquiries continue.’