Local Vape Action pilot tackling illegal vapes in Tunbridge Wells

Local Vape Action (LVA) is a partnership approach to tackling vaping issues at a local level. It brings together local authority partners as well as the vape sector via the Independent British Vape Trade Association (IBVTA), to identify and target specific areas.

LVA began with a pilot in Tunbridge Wells as identified by local authority partners in Kent. As part of the project retailers received visits from trading standards to check that they are meeting their statutory obligations, utilising targeted LVA guidance, including age-verification policies, in-store signage and retailer awareness of compliant vape products and vape takeback for used vapes. This builds on the positive work that Kent County Council has undertaken in tackling illegal vapes.

A summary of activities between September and December 2024 included:

• Trading Standards visits to more than 40 retailers of vapes across Tunbridge Wells.
• Trading Standards recorded the proportion of vape retailers that offered some form of vape takeback for used vapes. Only 26% were meeting their statutory requirement. Many of the retailers said they needed clearer guidance on requirements to recycle used vapes.
• Community safety week in late October a store takeover (pop-up) in Tunbridge Wells provided the opportunity to directly engage the local community utilising LVA branded materials and highlighting illegal vapes. Several stores were visited and illegal vapes seized.
• Trading Standards conducted a test purchasing exercise in December 2024, with a pass rate of 20% amongst the 20 shops that were visited. No offence was committed as the young person was of age, but this highlights the issues around not asking for ID appropriately and the further work required around the sale of vapes to younger people.
• Trading Standards seized non-compliant products from several independent shops across the pilot period leading to a reduction in the reported levels of illegal vapes sold.
• Community Safety Team and Trading Standards attendance at a safeguarding event at a local Tunbridge Wells school in December.
• LVA commissioned consumer research of 200 adults in the Tunbridge Wells area in December 2024

“This unique pilot has successfully brought together experts from the vape manufacturers, local councils and partner agencies to address specific issues in Tunbridge Wells, demonstrating effective collaboration and use of shared resources to ensure a trading environment which protects consumers, particularly children and young people, from harm and is fair to business,” said Mark Rolfe, Head of Community Protection at Kent County Council. “Kent Trading Standards’ involvement is crucial, particularly among smaller independent stores, by providing the necessary resources, time, expertise and engagement to ensure that the law is both understood and complied with in a way which supports legitimate businesses to trade and grow with confidence.

Kent Police and Crime Commissioner Matthew Scott added: “This has been an excellent and productive partnership, which has protected people, particularly young people, from illegal and often harmful vapes. By working together, the team has proved they can help protect places and businesses from unfair and unlawful practises. I’d like to thank everyone involved for their commitment to this innovative project.”