Under the Freedom of Information Act, I would like to request the following information related to the enforcement of the Children and Families Act 2014, as amended by The Nicotine Inhaling Products (Age of Sale and Proxy Purchasing) Regulations 2015.
The data given relates to the Heart of the South West Trading Standards area – which includes the areas covered by Devon County Council, Plymouth City Council, Somerset Council and Torbay Council.
Specifically, please provide me with:
1. The number of individuals who have been prosecuted in the last 12 months within your organisation’s jurisdiction for the sale of nicotine inhaling products (sometimes known as ‘e-cigarettes’, ‘vapes’, or ‘vapour products’) to individuals aged under 18, due to investigations conducted by Devon County Council.
None.
2. The number of businesses and sole traders subject to any penalty in the last 12 months (including but not limited to fine, opening restrictions, removal of premises license) for the sale of nicotine inhaling products (sometimes known as ‘e-cigarettes’, ‘vapes’, or ‘vapour products’) to individuals aged under 18, due to investigations conducted by Devon County Council.
Since 1st March 2023, Service warning letters were issued relating to test purchase failures at 4 premises, where a vape was sold to an individual who was aged under 18. One premise was subject to a closure order issued by magistrates. Investigations are currently ongoing regarding test purchase failures at a further 7 premises.
3. The number of shops, and other places of business (including but not limited to market stalls, ‘car-boot sales’ and other point of sale locations) that council employees have visited in the last 12 months for the purposes of detection and disruption of the sale of nicotine inhaling products to individuals aged under 18.
Test purchases for the sale of vapes to under 18s have been attempted at 66 premises since 1st March 2023.
4. The number of trading standard officers employed by the council whose job description, roles and responsibilities, entail the investigation, detection, and disruption of the sale of nicotine inhaling products to individuals aged under 18 and/or the removal of illicit products from retailers.
Two of our Trading Standards Officers are our lead officers for illegal tobacco and vapes as part of their duties, including leading on our response to the sale of vapes to under 18s. Other officers from across the service carry out test purchasing operations and related investigations as needed as part of their duties.