FOI request (FOIR-589429190)

Nicotine Inhaling Products

Requested Fri 23 February 2024
Responded Wed 28 February 2024

Under the Freedom of Information Act, I would like to request the following information related to the enforcement of the Children and Families Act 2014, as amended by The Nicotine Inhaling Products (Age of Sale and Proxy Purchasing) Regulations 2015.

Specifically, please provide me with:

1. The number of individuals who have been prosecuted in the last 12 months within your organisation's jurisdiction for the sale of nicotine inhaling products (sometimes known as 'e-cigarettes', 'vapes', or 'vapour products') to individuals aged under 18, due to investigations conducted by Hastings Borough Council.

2. The number of businesses and sole traders subject to any penalty in the last 12 months (including but not limited to fine, opening restrictions, removal of premises license) for the sale of nicotine inhaling products (sometimes known as 'e-cigarettes', 'vapes', or 'vapour products) to individuals aged under 18, due to investigations conducted by Hastings Borough Council.

3. The number of shops, and other places of business (including but not limited to market stalls, 'car-boot sales and other point of sale locations) that council employees have visited in the last 12 months for the purposes of detection and disruption of the sale of nicotine inhaling products to individuals aged under 18.

4. The number of trading standard officers employed by the council whose job description, roles and responsibilities, entail the investigation, detection, and disruption of the sale of nicotine inhaling products to individuals aged under 18 and/or the removal of illicit products from retailers.

This information can be provided as seen fit by Hastings Borough Council in order to reduce costs.

If the requesting this information is likely to exceed the cost limits provided, please prioritise the provision of these points in the order that they have been made (with '1' being most important and '4' the least).

Response

Information not held.

This area is dealt with by East Sussex County Council Trading Standards, please visit their website for further information:

https://www.eastsussex.gov.uk