Tackling Illicit Tobacco, Vapes and Underage Sales
The sale of illicit tobacco, cigarettes and vapes, including to underage children, is a priority concern within the Kingsweston area. This type of activity undermines legitimate businesses, poses serious health risks and is often linked to wider criminality and organised offending within the community.
Your neighbourhood policing team is taking a robust approach, working proactively to identify and disrupt any premises suspected of being involved. We are committed to protecting young people, supporting compliant businesses and ensuring those who break the law are held accountable.
We are carrying out regular, targeted visits and licensing checks at local stores, working closely with partner agencies such as Trading Standards to ensure compliance with the law. A zero-tolerance approach is being applied where offences are identified. This includes:
- Seizure of illicit tobacco, cigarettes and vapes
- Test purchase operations to identify sales to underage individuals
- Formal action against premises, including warning notices and licence reviews
- Prosecution of offenders where appropriate
We rely on information from the community to help us take action. If you suspect a business is involved in the sale of illicit or underage-restricted products, please report it to Avon and Somerset Police via 101, or contact your local neighbourhood policing team using the details provided on your local beat page.
By working together, we can tackle this issue and help keep Kingsweston a safe and lawful place for everyone.