Police issue new closure notice to Romanian Buttermarket shop
Suffolk Constabulary has issued a fresh closure notice to Magazin Bacau Romanian Supermarket on Ipswich's Buttermarket – just six weeks after magistrates refused to grant a full closure order against the same premises.
Why it matters: The notice, issued by Suffolk Police on 6 May 2026 under the Anti-Social Behaviour, Crime and Policing Act 2014, prohibits access to the premises at 51 Buttermarket for up to 48 hours. It expires at 12:30 on Friday, 8 May 2026, at which point a magistrates' court hearing must take place if police wish to seek a full closure order.
The background: The shop has been at the centre of prolonged anti-social behaviour complaints for around two years. Police believe alcohol was being sold illegally to groups gathering outside the shop, contributing to disorder in the surrounding area.
For context: This is not the first time police have taken action against the premises. Suffolk Constabulary, working in partnership with Trading Standards, the Medicines and Healthcare Products Regulatory Agency (MHRA), and Ipswich Borough Council Licensing, spent several months gathering evidence against the shop, including witness statements and material obtained through search warrants. A warrant executed on 10 November 2025 led to the seizure of illicit alcohol, tobacco and prescription-only medication from the premises.
It follows a failed attempt earlier this year to shut the premises. Magistrates declined to grant a full closure order at a hearing on 23 March 2026 — a decision that left officers "incredibly frustrated," with sources telling Ipswich.co.uk they could "not understand the decision."
What's next: For a full closure order to be granted, a magistrates' court hearing must take place within the 48-hour window of the closure notice. Should a full order be granted, it would prohibit anyone — including the owner — from entering the premises for up to three months, with breach of the order carrying a penalty of up to 51 weeks in prison or an unlimited fine.
A full closure order would also automatically trigger a review of the premises licence by Ipswich Borough Council Licensing, which has the power to revoke it entirely.
The bottom line: The notice is the latest step in a prolonged effort by police and partner agencies to address anti-social behaviour linked to the premises.
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