Inspector “pleased” to see large quantity of illegal vapes out of circulation after Nottinghamshire Police and Trading Standards search Newark town centre shops
The area’s district commander was “pleased” to see illegal vapes taken out of circulation after seizures made during Safer Business Action Week.
Newark neighbourhood policing team officers and PCSOs were joined by Nottinghamshire County Council Trading Standards officers for a series of searches to crack down on the sale of illegal tobacco and disposable vapes.
Three shops across Newark town centre were searched on the evening of Tuesday, October 15, — resulting in the discovery of 1,437 illegal vapes estimated to be worth £18,861.
The joint operation was carried out as part of the Newark neighbourhood team’s activity for Safer Business Action Week, which started on Monday, October 14.
Inspector Charlotte Ellam, District Commander for Newark and Sherwood, said: “We’re pleased to have been able to take such high quantities of illegal disposable vapes out of circulation through this activity.
“The vapes were found and removed from three shops in Newark town centre, with Trading Standards joining our team to conduct a series of planned searches.
“This joint operation was conducted as part of our neighbourhood activity for Safer Business Action Week, with the purpose of targeting the sale of illicit tobacco and illegal vapes.
“Shops which blatantly sell illegal vapes negatively impact genuine, law-abiding retailers who struggle to compete.
“If anyone sees shops selling anything they believe to be illegal or not approved for sale in the UK, we’d ask them to please contact Nottinghamshire Trading Standards directly.”
Disposable vapes approved for sale in the UK have a maximum tank size of 2ml and are normally advertised as having approximately 600 puffs in them.
Any vape claiming to provide more than 600-800 puffs will have a tank size that’s larger than 2ml and will be illegal.
This law is in place to ensure electronic cigarette products are used responsibly and to protect consumers from excessive nicotine intake.
Reports can be made to Trading Standards by contacting the Citizen’s Advice Consumer Service on 0808 223 1133.
