The Government has announced £10m to fund 80 apprentice enforcement officers to clamp down on vaping in local communities.
The funding will go to Trading Standards, which is the local authority body that enforce consumer protection legislation, to help stop underage sales and stop illicit tobacco and vape products entering shops.
The officers will work with local police to take down crime groups that supply illegal vapes.
It comes alongside the Tobacco and Vapes Bill, which aims to end the sale of tobacco products to anyone born on or after 1 January 2009. The bill is now in the report stage, awaiting its third reading in the House of Commons.
Minister for public health and prevention, Ashley Dalton, said: ‘Buying illicit tobacco and vapes may save a few pennies in your pocket, but they can be incredibly dangerous and are often linked to criminal activity.
‘It’s vital the Tobacco and Vapes Bill moves forward so we can tackle this illicit trade and free our children from a life imprisoned by addiction. By phasing out tobacco, introducing new restrictions on vapes and putting more boots on our streets, we’re taking the concrete action needed to deliver our Plan for Change and bring us that one step closer to a healthier, smoke-free future.’
John Herriman, chief executive at the Chartered Trading Standards Institute (CTSI), said: ‘CTSI is very welcoming of the announcement of substantial funding for Trading Standards services across England.
‘This much-needed investment will strengthen our ability to support businesses in complying with current and future tobacco and vaping regulations and will also ensure we are well placed to support the protection of public health.
‘It also reinforces our commitment to taking firm action against anyone who seeks to harm their local communities by choosing to operate outside the law. With these additional resources, we can make a real difference in both keeping consumers safe and ensuring a fair and responsible marketplace.’
It comes as a study found that smoking rates in the North of England have declined faster than in other regions, narrowing the gap in smoking prevalence across the country.
In February, a study found that cancer death rates were 60% higher for those living in the most deprived areas of the UK compared with the least deprived.
The Government has also announced a study to investigate the long-term effects of vaping on children and young people’s health.
