Illegal vapes were seized from nearly 3,000 unscrupulous sellers last year, but only one in 20 were issued fines, new freedom of information (FOI) requests have revealed.
A new report based on FOI responses from 152 local authorities found that over one and a half million illegal vapes were seized in the UK in 2023.
Published by the retailer Vape Club, the 2024 Illegal Vaping Report also estimates that since 2020 4.18 million illegal vapes have been seized.
Vape Club director Dan Marchant welcomed the Government’s recent decision to allow trading standards to issue on-the-spot fines but called for the maximum fine to be increased from £2,500 to £10,000.
‘The best deterrent for any crime is the likelihood of being caught and right now that is incredibly low, and rogue retailers are taking full advantage of this. We have to create an environment where there is much more chance of being caught,’ he said.
