North Yorkshire Council is considering a series of updated powers to crack down on illegal vapes, illicit tobacco, and online scams across the county.
Senior councillors will meet on Tuesday 27th October to review a proposed enforcement policy for the local trading standards team. If approved, the framework will give officers new tools to deal with rogue traders, dodgy websites, and shops selling age-restricted products to children.
A key addition to the policy is the introduction of fixed penalty notices under the Tobacco and Vapes Act 2026. This gives officers the power to hand out instant fines for specific offences, alongside existing options like court prosecutions for businesses that repeatedly break the law.
The updated strategy also formally highlights the work of the National Trading Standards e-Crime Team, which is jointly hosted in North Yorkshire alongside City of York Council. The specialist unit works directly with internet providers to take down misleading websites, particularly overseas scams posing as legitimate British shops to trick online buyers.
The move comes as illegal vape sales continue to rise across the country, with national figures showing over 1,190,000 illicit vapes seized in England between 2023 and 2024.
“Our trading standards team play a vital role in protecting residents, supporting honest businesses and helping to ensure our communities remain safe places to live, work and shop,” said Cllr Richard Foster, North Yorkshire Council’s executive member for managing our environment. “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.”
If the executive backs the policy next week, the updated enforcement framework will come into force across North Yorkshire immediately.
