STOPPING the sale of illegal vapes remains a priority for BCP Council Trading Standards and officers are continuing to visit sites across the area.

More than 5,000 illegal vapes have been seized in Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole this year.

As reported in the Daily Echo, more than 7,000 of the e-cigarettes were seized between January 2021 and May 25 2023.

Of these, 3,012 were confiscated in 2023 alone.

BCP Council said several investigations are ongoing into the seizures.

Many of the illegal vapes sold in local convenience stores are ‘oversized’ with some nine times the permitted limit of 2ml liquid.

Brightly coloured and plastic, BCP Council said some of these are designed to appeal to children.

With the government reportedly set to ban single-use vapes and e-cigarettes, the local authority said it will follow guidance on implementing changes to legislation, as and when any decisions are made.

Bournemouth Echo: Disposable vapes are often sold in bright colours and in flavours such as bubblegum, pink lemonade

A spokesperson for the council said: “The sale of illegal vapes remains a priority for BCP Council Trading Standards and we are continuing with visits to premises across BCP offering advice on the legal requirements and seizing non-compliant products when they are found.”

It works closely with Trading Standards South West, National Trading Standards and the Chartered Trading Standards Institute to ensure it will make these changes should it be required.

The council also collaborates with Dorset Police and held a ‘day of action’ in June, where 528 illegal vapes and 6.2kg of illegal tobacco was confiscated from a convenience store.

Bournemouth Echo: Vapes seized by Trading Standards officers in the BCP area

Council portfolio holder for housing and regulatory services, Kieran Wilson, said in July that the council was ‘committed to keeping the residents and families’ of the area safe.

He said the increase in seizures of illegal vapes in 2023 mirrors the national trend as their popularity has increased, with more stores now selling them.

This has also triggered a rise in reports of the alleged sale of the vapes containing nicotine and oversized vapes to children.

To report the sale of illegal vapes or sales to children, people can contact Citizens Advice Consumer Service, which will forward details on to Trading Standards.