PCC supports crackdown on illegal tobacco and vapes
Police and Crime Commissioner, Philip Wilkinson, joined officers from Wiltshire Police, HMRC and Swindon Borough Council's Trading Standards team as they recovered illegal tobacco and vapes from three shops and a home address in central Swindon.
Following four simultaneous warrants to disrupt the sale of illegal cigarettes and vapes in the Broadgreen area of Swindon, five people were arrested under the trade marks act and more than £55,000 of illicit cigarettes and vapes were seized.
Research by the Inter Scientific Laboratory, a Liverpool-based lab which works with vape manufacturers to ensure regulatory requirements are being met, has shown that some illegal vapes have been found with high levels of lead, nickel and chromium. Many of the vapes could also have could have higher nicotine concentration levels, contain banned ingredients or have oversized tanks for nicotine liquid.
Mr Wilkinson said:
"This is all part of inter-connected criminality. One crime is inevitably connected to another.
"These crimes will be driving the insecurities that make the lives of our residents less safe, and puts their health at risk"
A court order granted officers Closure Orders for three months on Kubus Polski Sklep and a related residential property.
Interim Closure Orders were granted for the Istanbul Market and the Romanian and Polish Shop until a further court hearing.
These orders prevent any people from entering the properties so they’re not able to sell any more illegal items and continue to pose a risk to public health.
PC Butwell from the Central South NPT said: “Our role as a Neighbourhood Policing Team is to target local community issues.
“Concerns were raised by the community about the ongoing illegal sales in these shops, which led to the warrants being conducted.
“To further address these concerns and to prevent future issues, we took action to seek Closure Orders on these premises."
