A new way to prosecute more businesses for selling illegal cigarettes and vapes is already having an effect in Spalding and is set to be rolled out across the county.
Lincolnshire County Council says part of the process being taken on by police is allowing more of a crackdown on those flouting the law.
It comes after two properties were served temporary closure orders within seven days last week, Euro Star Shop in New Road and Spalding Express Convenience Store on Commercial Road
A spokesman for Lincolnshire County Council, which is overseeing Trading Standards, said it can now prosecute people quicker because Lincolnshire Police had taken on the process of prosecutions.
“Until recently, all of our closure orders had been dealt with solely by Lincolnshire Trading Standards, and taken through court by the county council,” the spokesman said, “The police assisted us to ensure there is no breach of the peace whilst we issue the closures.
“The new working practice with the Spalding policing team is that Trading Standards still provides the bulk of the evidence, however it is the police who are the applicant for the closure and their legal team take the application to court.
“This arrangement basically means we can do more of them, and quicker, as the workload is shared between the two organisations.
“So far, it’s only Spalding policing team we have this arrangement with, but we’re looking at working with other policing teams in the county to set up this approach, and be able to tackle more shops suspected of selling illicit products together.”
A spokesman for Lincolnshire Police, said: “
Trading Standards have in the past always worked with Lincolnshire Police Licensing (as often the issues they are dealing with go hand in hand). Police Licensing cover the whole of the county so local Neighbourhood Policing Teams have become more involved over the last year for the work they have been doing in Spalding.
“We have complete various days of action with TS along with other visits/ proactive policing work for this type of criminality.
“A lot of the joint working we have done has helped to provide evidence required for the closure orders, and we plan to continue working with them closely.”
It comes as Trading Standards has reported a significant surge in underage vape sales throughout the county.
In a recent Lincolnshire County Council meeting, it was revealed that instances related to vaping have skyrocketed by 344 per cent in the past year alone, with children as young as eight years old spotted vaping on school premises.
County Councillor Wendy Bowkett, executive for adult care and public health, voiced her concerns, saying: “Youth vaping has increased across the country and whilst e-cigarettes are less harmful than smoking, they are not risk-free and shouldn’t be used by children under 18 or non-smokers. Our Trading Standards team is also working to tackle underage sales and ensure that vapes comply with UK vaping regulations.”
