15.11.22 – Illegal Vapes in SOT, Cannabis Plants in Tunstall, Fire in King Street

Stoke-on-Trent City Council’s Trading Standards Team has removed 5,000 illegal vapes, worth around £66,000 from the market since April 2022.

The vapes have been seized as part of ongoing inspections and test purchasing exercises being carried out at premises across the City. Illegal vapes include those with illegal tank sizes containing too much vaping liquid, and incorrect labelling.

In some cases vapes sold as ‘zero nicotine’ have been found to actually contain nicotine, with it being listed as an ingredient on the label. This is becoming an increasing problem and genuine traders could be caught out.

Vaping devices are highly regulated by the government to control the amount of nicotine. They also have to be approved by the Medicines and Healthcare Regulatory Agency. The legal capacity of a disposable e-cigarette tank is 2ml.

Councillor Carl Edwards, cabinet member for housing and environment, said: “Our team regularly carry out inspections and test purchases to check that premises are following their legal requirements. Businesses should take precautions to check the products they plan to buy carefully to avoid financial loss.

“We will always take action against anyone found to be involved in the storage, distribution or supply of illegal vapes. The message is clear – you will face consequences if you deal in illegal vapes.”

To report premises selling illegal vapes or tobacco products contact our Trading Standards team on 0808 223 1133 or visit www.adviceguide.org.uk

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400 cannabis plants have been discovered at a premises in Tunstall

Staffordshire Police were called to the premises just before 9.30am on Wednesday morning following reports of suspicious activity.

On arrival, officers found 400 cannabis plants, split between four rooms, at the premises, plus over 150 cannabis saplings.  Inquiries are ongoing.

If you have any information and CCTV footage that could help with their inquiries, contact Staffordshire Police on Facebook, Twitter, or call 101, quoting incident 160 of 9 November.

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A man has been arrested following a house fire in Stoke-on-Trent.

Staffordshire Police were called to an address near King Street just before 1.30 in the early hours of yesterday morning following reports of a house fire,  alongside colleagues from Staffordshire Fire and Rescue Service and paramedics from West Midlands Ambulance Service.

Two children and a woman were assessed by paramedics at the scene and were taken to hospital as a precaution.

A 22-year-old man, from Stoke-on-Trent, was arrested on suspicion of arson with intent to endanger life.

Anyone with any information or relevant CCTV footage of the area at the time is asked to get in touch via social media or 101 .quoting incident 30 of 14 November.

You can report anonymously by calling Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.

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