Trading Standards Operation

   Good Afternoon

                                   Officers from Rossendale Neighbourhood Policing Team conducted a joint operation with Lancashire Trading Standards Officers to target the sale of Illegal and Illicit Tobacco, cigarettes and vape/E-cigarette products.

                                   The Operation involved the inspection of numerous shops throughout Rossendale Valley, making random test purchases by utilising underage children as the test subjects. All the underage test purchasers where accompanied by both Police and Trading Standards officers who where in close proximity at all times.

                                   Out of the 10 shops that we carried out the inspections at, 4 failed and actively sold vapes/E-cigarettes to underage test purchasers. The owners/management of these shops where spoken with at the time of the sale and further action will be taken by Trading Standards at a later date.