• Newham Officers and specialist dog teams sniff out rogue traders and stop under age sales
Newham Trading Standards Officers have been working hard to stop the sale of illegal tobacco products and vapes, particularly to under aged shoppers.
The most recent statistics show that the use of e-cigarettes is up, with nine per cent of 11-15 year olds admitting to using vapes despite health concerns and fears use may prove a gateway to smoking traditional tobacco products.
In the three months from April-June 2023 Newham conducted 68 under-age test purchase visits – with eight shops found to be selling illegally. This compares to a much higher failure rate in the same period in 2022 and shows the continued campaign has scored success, with traders responding to advice and the threat of enforcement action.
Meanwhile, working with the specialist dog team “Wagtails”, Trading Standards seized over £334, 000 in illegal products from cigarettes to alcohol and vapes from the streets of Newham.
The crackdown was part of Operation CeCe, a national campaign which focusses on joint working between National Trading Standards and Her Majesty’s Revenue and Customs.
The investigations remain ongoing and the seized products will now be fully assessed as part of the inquiry to determine the exact offences that have been committed.
Anyone who is prosecuted and convicted of being involved in selling or supplying illegal tobacco can face penalties including up to 10 years in prison and an unlimited fine.
Edward King, Team Leader of Newham Trading Standards, Licensing and Events said:
“The illegal sale of vapes to young people has quite rightly hit the headlines recently with the government promising to beef up powers to tackle it. Here in Newham we have been at the forefront of collaborative efforts to protect young people and their health and will continue to do so.
“Our work cuts across all aspects of illegal trade from underage sales, illicit products, counterfeiting, duty evasion, rogue traders, product safety, e-crime and provides brilliant return for the money the Council, Public Health, regional, and national partners put in - with £28 of illegal products seized for every £1 invested.”