(Image: North Yorkshire Council)
Shops selling vapes to children could be handed on-the-spot fines under new plans being drawn up by North Yorkshire Council.
Proposals to tackle illegal tobacco and vape sales are set to go before the council’s executive.
A member of North Yorkshire Council’s trading standards team looking at confiscated cigarettes and tobacco (Image: North Yorkshire Council)
It comes after the government announced that enforcement authorities will be able to issue fixed penalty notices for a range of offences relating to tobacco products from Thursday, October 29.
North Yorkshire Council said it is updating its policy following the government announcement.
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The council said the updated framework, to be debated at a meeting on Tuesday, October 27, will help officers respond more effectively to issues ranging from underage tobacco and vape sales to online scams and rogue traders.
Cllr Richard Foster, the council’s executive member for managing our environment, whose responsibilities include trading standards, said: “This proposed updated policy provides a clear and transparent framework for enforcement, ensuring we can respond effectively to emerging challenges while taking a fair and proportionate approach.
“By targeting those who deliberately flout the law and protecting consumers from harm, we are helping to create a level playing field for responsible businesses and safeguarding some of the most vulnerable members of our communities.”