As the Tobacco and Vapes Bill begins its route through the legislative process, the crackdown on illegal vapes and illicit tobacco continues across Cambridgeshire.

Cambridgeshire County Council has announced that further seizures of illegal products were made on November 6 from shops in Whittlesey, March and Chatteris.

These seizures were made in a multi-agency operation led by Trading Standards in conjunction with Cambridgeshire Police, HMRC and Wagtail tobacco dogs, Fenland District Council Officers and Immigration. The operation follows the receipt of Intelligence from members of the public.

Since January, these joint operations have led to the seizure of more than 8,500 illegal vapes and almost 26,000 illicit cigarettes across Cambridgeshire, with Trading Standards sending over three quarters of a tonne of seized illegal vapes to a dedicated recycling facility in July.

Recommended Reading: Police announce weapons amnesty in Cambridgeshire

Issues include vapes with tank sizes that are illegal in the UK due to the quantities of liquid they contain, and vapes that wrongly state they contain no nicotine.

The Tobacco and Vapes Bill aims to help prevent vapes from appealing to children by restricting flavours, packaging and the display of these products. It will introduce a progressive smoking ban that will gradually end the sale of tobacco products, meaning children born after 1 January 2009 will never legally be able to buy cigarettes.

It will also ban proxy purchasing and strengthen the enforcement powers of Trading Standards.

Peter Gell, service director regulatory services for CCC, said: “These ongoing, targeted enforcement operations send a clear message to the shops that supply these products, and the organised crime gangs behind these crimes, that the sale of illegal vapes won’t be tolerated in Cambridgeshire. We are committed to taking a hard line with anyone we uncover perpetrating these crimes.  

“The level of Intelligence we receive from the public and local law-abiding businesses is also indicative of local feeling towards these crimes.

"They don’t want these crimes being committed in their local communities, and we will continue to tackle it on their behalf.”