Latest news with #tradingstandards
BBC News
a day ago
- Business
- BBC News
Kent sees 588% rise in shops having illegal goods seized
Kent County Council (KCC) has seen a rise of more than 588% in the number of shops having illegal goods seized in the past two years, BBC's England Data Unit has 2024-25, KCC reported illegal goods being seized from 117 shops, compared to 77 in 2023-24 and 17 in 2022-23."This increase is not a reflection of a worsening problem alone, but also of a deliberate and strategic intensification of enforcement activity across the county," said a council Home Office has been contacted for a response. KCC added that its trading standards team seized almost two million illegal cigarettes, 605.5kg (95st 5lb) of hand-rolling tobacco and 25,476 illicit vapes in 2024-25."These seizures were concentrated in areas such as Canterbury, Thanet, and Ashford, and included sophisticated concealment methods such as hidden compartments behind showers," it of Information request responses from 169 councils across Britain showed 3,624 shops in Britain had illegal cigarettes, tobacco or vaping products seized from them in the 2024-25 financial year - down slightly from 3,664 in BBC investigation also found many shops seized from were convenience stores, mini marts and vape Lowman, chief executive of the Association of Convenience Stores, said he supported enforcement action against businesses knowingly selling illegal products. He added: "At the moment, too many shady businesses are taking the risk on selling illicit goods because the financial reward outweighs any possible repercussions."
Yahoo
a day ago
- Business
- Yahoo
Wolverhampton shop could lose licence over 'gin sting' and 'illegal vapes'
A shop could lose its licence after being caught with illegal vapes and cigarettes and selling alcohol without permission. Bobbies News and Off Licence in Prestwood Road, Wolverhampton, will face a review hearing by City of Wolverhampton Council after it was caught breaking the conditions of its alcohol licence. According to the council's records, the off licence, near the city's New Cross Hospital, has not had a named supervisor since 2023 which meant it was not permitted to sell alcohol until one was nominated. READ MORE: First picture of killer who stabbed ex-boyfriend in heart on Christmas Day READ MORE: Killer mum murdered children hours after being sent home by police Duty-free cigarettes and illegal oversized vapes were also found at the shop during searches by council staff. The review has been pushed by Wolverhampton's trading standards who have asked the committee to consider revoking the licence when it meets on August 6. A report published ahead of the meeting said the shops' licence was transferred to current owner Manjit Singh Dhillon in 2019 with Kokila Keshavbhai Patel listed as supervisor. Kokila Keshavbhai Patel withdrew consent in 2023 which meant alcohol could not be served from the shop as a supervisor must be named as part of the shop's licence and the shop has not had a designated supervisor since. The council also said it received a complaint from a customer in July 2024 after a packet of duty-free cigarettes was sold to them at the normal retail price. The council visited the Heath Town shop in April and found its licence was not on display and could not be found by owner Manjit Singh Dhillon. Read more: New plans for late-night Wolverhampton venue after last licence revoked Read more: Desi mixed grill plans for empty listed pub Read more: More spaces to be added to Midlands leisure centre as gym-goers struggle to park Read more: 127-year-old Midlands pub to be demolished for new Lidl parking spaces Read more: 'Seal of approval' for new homes on former Wolverhampton pub site A report by Wolverhampton trading standards said an environmental health officer had visited the shop and said they were 'concerned' by Mr Dhillion 'making a gesture' towards a customer when refusing to sell them cigarettes in front of them. The report goes on to say that a licensing officer returned a week later to find alcohol was still on display, despite the earlier warning. The council officer was then told by a staff member when questioned that the shop did not sell alcohol despite it still being displayed. Another council officer returned to the shop a day later and was able to buy a bottle of gin. Read more: £1m work planned to increase places at Wolverhampton primary school Read more: Aldi coming to city as council sells former care home in £1.5m deal Read more: Decision made on re-opening historic Midlands pub seven years after closing Read more: Wolverhampton Council to write off nearly £2m in debts Read more: Triangle Bar and Grill stripped of licence by Wolverhampton Council after 'various and serious issues' The council said Bobby's News & Off Licence was included in a round of inspections in late April with officers this time finding 24 packets of illegal cigarettes and more than 130 oversized vapes with Mr Dhillon telling the council the cigarettes were duty-free bought by his son on holiday a week earlier. Mr Dhillon had told the council his son Harvinder was in the process of getting a new copy of the licence. The report also said the council received a call from 'Harvey' who wanted his duty-free cigarettes back and his tone was 'confrontational, accusatory and overbearing.' City of Wolverhampton Council's licensing committee meets at the Civic Centre on August 6 to make a decision.
BBC News
03-07-2025
- BBC News
Dog sniffs out illegal vapes and Viagra in Tower Hamlets
A sniffer dog is being hailed a "hero" after uncovering a stash of illicit cigarettes, vapes and unlicensed erectile dysfunction tablets during an enforcement operation in east patrolling with trading standards officers on 11 June in Whitechapel, Skye, a specially trained four-year old springer spaniel, detected suspicious smells coming from a locked box attached to the back of a bike outside a Hamlets councillor Abu Talha Chowdhury said such products could be really dangerous and "had no place on our high streets"."I'd like to thank our trading standards team and Skye who played a hero's role in helping to keep our communities safe," he said. What looked like an ordinary bike box used for deliveries, turned out to contain illicit goods, Tower Hamlets Council to Skye's sense of smell, officers were able to seize:33 packets of illicit cigarettes7 packets of smokeless tobacco14 pouches of hand-rolling tobacco24 illegal vapes80 unlicensed erectile tablets The discovery was part of a two-day crackdown targeting the sale of counterfeit and unsafe products, which in total led to the seizure of:5,840 illicit cigarettes (292 packets)418 assorted illegal vapes2,055 packets of chewing tobacco80 unlicensed and potentially dangerous erectile dysfunction tablets The dog patrol service is part of Tower Hamlets' £8m Anti-Crime Task Force - a joint effort with the police to tackle crime and disorder. The initiative was launched to boost community safety and support police officers with weapons sweeps, drug disruption and vehicle Chowdhury added: "We take a proactive approach to smoke out illegal trading in Tower Hamlets and regularly use sniffer dogs, so there's no place for such trading to hide."
BBC News
27-06-2025
- Business
- BBC News
More than 1,700 single-use vapes seized from Wellingborough shop
More than 1,700 illegal single-use vapes have been seized from a town centre shop, police were found during spot-checks at three stores in Wellingborough, laws came into force in June which require retail outlets to only stock reusable owner of the shop was given advice, but the police have warned that there will be follow-up inspections for any premises found flouting the law. From 1 June, it has been illegal for shops to supply single-use government introduced the regulations because the disposable variety contribute towards plastic pollution, and can also be a fire risk when taken to landfill sites because they have lithium are now only allowed to sell reusable vapes, which must have a rechargeable battery or a replaceable coil, and be designed to be of the premises visited by the police and trading standards officers in Wellingborough on Tuesday were found to be complying with the law, but 1,734 disposable vapes, along with a packet of illegal imported cigarettes, were seized at the third shop. Northamptonshire Police said: "On this occasion, the premises occupier was given advice."However, under the new legislation, premises found to be flouting the law will receive future follow-up inspections."Government advice states that retailers who sell illegal vapes will be served with a civil notice or a given a small fine in the first offenders could find themselves facing an unlimited fine or a jail sentence of up to two years. Follow Northamptonshire news on BBC Sounds, Facebook, Instagram and X.
Yahoo
26-06-2025
- Yahoo
Warning over scam adverts selling fake tickets for cruises from a container port
Facebook users have been warned about scam adverts selling fake cruise tours from a container port in Suffolk. Suffolk County Council's trading standards department warned people against a now-removed Facebook post offering cruises from Felixstowe, the UK's largest container port. 'Many residents of Suffolk and our bordering counties will be well aware that Felixstowe is a container port and not a passenger port, however, some people could easily be duped by the advert,' the council wrote in a post. It said the post appears to have been removed, but reports suggest that the link took people to a website asking for personal and financial information. The fraudulent advert was offering a 'relaxed coastal cruise' as you take in the 'quiet charm' of Felixstowe. The scam post wrote: 'Felixstowe combines history, heritage coastline and sea views for the perfect calm escape.' The Suffolk coast attracts visitors to its charming seaside towns such as Southwold and wild stretches of beaches. Although Felixstowe has its own beach and pier, its port does not serve cruises such as the one advertised. The container port instead handles 45 per cent of the UK's sea-bound freight, which equates to more than four million 20-foot shipping containers. The council offered some tips to avoid holiday scams, such as reading online reviews from reputable sources to check that websites are genuine and only using secure payment methods recommended by reputable online retailers. It also said to use a credit card when making purchases over £100 and up to £30,000 as you receive section 75 protection. The council asked its followers that if they think they have been targeted by the scam, to speak to their bank and report it to Action Fraud. Cruise scams are not unheard of. In 2022, a con man was jailed for six years after dressing up as a ship's captain in order to sell fake luxury holidays. Jody Oliver made £320,315 by wearing a fake Carnival Cruise Line captain's uniform while selling fake holidays in the Newport area of South Wales. Mr Oliver admitted six counts of fraud by false representation for this scheme and others after victims said they used their life savings to buy these 'once in a lifetime' holidays.
