Under the Freedom of Information Act, I wish to request the following information:
1. How many units of e-cigarettes/vaping devices/e-liquid goods were seized?
2. How many units of cigarette packs were seized?
3. The number of identified cases of illegal vaping products being in possession of, stocked, or sold by businesses
4. How many fines or penalties have been issued for being in possession of, stocking, or selling illegal vapes?
5. What was the value in £ pound sterling of each fine issued by your local authority?
Please present this data annually for each of the below periods:
1st January 2023 to 1st November 2023
1st January 2022 to 31st Dec 2022
1st January 2021 to 31st Dec 2021
1st January 2020 to 31st Dec 2020
1st January 2019 to 31st Dec 2019
Please note information is not held prior to 1st January 2021. 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.
| Question | 1 January 2021 – 31 December 2021 | 1 January 2022 – 31 December 2022 | 1 January 2023 – 1 November 2023 |
| How many units of e-cigarettes /vaping devices / e-liquid goods were seized? | Not recorded | 2009 units | 4356 units |
| How many units of cigarette packs were seized? | 13,813 packs | 22,400 packs | 28,018 packs |
| The number of identified cases of illegal vaping products being in possession of, stocked, or sold by businesses? | Not recorded | 12 cases | 24 cases |
| How many fines or penalties have been issued for being in possession of, stocking, or selling illegal vapes? **NB – fines are not able to be issued by local authorities for this subject area** | None | 1 premises closure order | 1 premises closure order |
| What was the value in £ pound sterling of each fine issued by your local authority? **NB – fines are not able to be issued by local authorities for this subject area** | None | None | None |