Tackling Illicit Tobacco, Vapes and Underage Sales

Agreed on 28 February 2026. Updated on 14 May 2026

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 significant health risks and is often linked to wider criminality. Your neighbourhood policing team is taking a firm stance, working to identify and disrupt any premises found to be involved.

We are carrying out regular, targeted licensing checks at local stores and working closely with partner agencies, including Trading Standards, to ensure compliance. 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 underage sales
Formal action against premises, including warning letters and licence reviews
Prosecution of offenders where appropriate

If you suspect any stores are contributing to this then please report to 101 non emergency or contact the local beat team on your local beat page under contact forms.

Actions

14 May 2026

We will also continue to gather intelligence and monitor repeat locations to build strong cases against those involved. If you suspect any stores are selling illicit products or supplying to underage children, please report this via 101 (non-emergency) or contact your local neighbourhood team through the beat page. Information from the public plays a vital role in helping us take action and protect our community.
22 January 2026

We are making a key focus to deal with unlicensed and illegal goods this month. Please report any goods you are unsure about via 101 or speak to an officers while we are out in the community.
22 January 2026

The team are working with members of the public to target illicit vapes & tobacco that are being sold within our local stores in the area. We rely heavily on intelligence from members of the public calling us and making us aware which shops are an issue. Please continue to report so we can target these appropriately.
22 January 2026

Local policing team are working with trading standards and Licensing going forward to actively target shops selling illicit goods. We urge residents and members of public to come forward and make us aware of anything that looks suspicious or false within shops that we can engage with going forward.