Protecting young people from substances such as alcohol, cigarettes and vapes is a key priority for Barking and Dagenham Council and through its Trading Standards team run regular test purchasing operations on businesses across the east London borough.

Last Tuesday 30 May, the council’s Trading Standards service ran an operation where a 13-year-old attempted to purchase a vape from 15 businesses from across the borough.

It is illegal to sell nicotine containing vapes to a person under the age of 18.

Out of the 15 businesses tested, only one from Barking sold to the test purchasers and now faces being prosecuted for the breaking the law under the Nicotine Inhaling Products (Age of Sale and Proxy Purchasing) Regulations 2015.

Councillor Syed Ghani, Cabinet Member for Enforcement and Community Safety said: “Despite one business failing, it is encouraging that our continuous monitoring visits and enforcement is having an impact as the failure rates are much lower than earlier in the year.

“Businesses have a responsibility to ensure that when selling products such as vapes, alcohol and cigarettes that the individual is over the age of 18.”

The council’s Trading Standards service will continue to carry out similar operations and traders who persistently break the law will be prosecuted and can be banned from selling certain products.

If residents are concerned about a trader, they can report it to Citizens Advice by calling 0808 223 1133, via their website or can email tradingstandards@lbbd.gov.uk.