Kent Trading Standards supports day of action to curb illegal sales

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A black dog with a cardboard box of illegal tobacco and vapes in plastic bags

Detection dog George with some of the illegal tobacco and vapes products he helped the team uncover. CREDIT: Image courtesy of The Nose Know K9 company.

Kent Trading Standards officers joined a joint operation in the Folkestone & Hythe district aimed at combatting suspected illegal tobacco and vape sales and alleged criminal activity.

Supported by detection dog George, seven premises including retail outlets and businesses were visited in Folkestone, Hythe, New Romney and Lydd following complaints about illegal and underage sales, the handling of suspected stolen goods and potential modern slavery.

Licensing and community safety officers from Folkestone & Hythe District Council joined the operation led by Kent Police’s Folkestone Community Safety Unit.

Members of the Home Office South East Immigration Enforcement team were also involved.

Items were seized from three of the premises visited under Trading Standards legislation.

Jim Whiddett, Kent Trading Standards Operations Manager, Consumer and Public Safety said: "Thanks to everyone who helped provide the intelligence for us to take this effective partnership action. Illegal tobacco and vape sales put people's health at risk, damage the environment and undercut retailers trying to do the right thing.”

PC Lucy Hazelden of Kent Police’s Neighbourhood Task Force said: “Joint partnership operations are vital in enabling the Community Safety Unit to respond effectively to concerns raised by the public surrounding non-compliance and illegal trading.

“Encouragingly, among the premises found to be fully compliant, staff and business owners were highly supportive of proactive policing activity and recognised the importance of these visits in helping to keep the public safe.”

KCC Chairman Richard Palmer

“I’m very proud of the work Trading Standards do to support our districts, the police and other partners to make Kent communities safer”

Richard Palmer Cabinet Member for Community and Regulatory Services

Kent County Council Cabinet Member for Community and Regulatory Services, Richard Palmer, said: “I’m very proud of the work Trading Standards do to support our districts, the police and other partners to make Kent communities safer.”

Cllr Polly Blakemore, Folkestone and Hythe District Council Cabinet Member for Regulatory Services, said: “Bringing agencies together is vital as we all work to report and reduce criminal activity in our communities.

“I am pleased that the teams were able to jointly respond to reported concerns with this operation. The message is loud and clear: we will not tolerate such activity in our district.”