Tom Gordon MP calls for new powers to close cowboy vendors and restrict illicit vape shops on the high street.

Majority of Brits want more powers to crack down on illicit vape shops with 3 in 5
(60%) adults saying they want their local community to have more power over the
number of vape shops in their local area.

The Liberal Democrats have called for local authorities to have new powers to close
cowboy vendors and ensure that the incoming licensing regime for tobacco and vape
retailers will give councils the power to restrict the number of vape shops on the high
street. The MP for Harrogate and Knaresborough, Tom Gordon warns of the
‘hollowing out’ of the Great British high streets as seven pubs lost for every new
vape shop over the last decade.

New polling commissioned by the Liberal Democrats reveals 3 in 5 Brits want to see
more power to control the number of vape shops on their high street, as the party
calls for a crackdown on cowboy vendors and restore our high streets.

Communities need to limit the number of vape shops in local areas, say 60% of
British adults in new polling from the Lib Dems. The party would grant councils new
powers to close cowboy vendors and guaranteeing the incoming licensing regime
will allow councils to curb their spread on high streets.

The polling also found just 1 in 10 were against communities having more powers
over the number of vape shops.

Concerns have grown as the number of vape shops on British high streets have
skyrocketed by 1,200% in the past decade. Over the past three years nearly 5 million
illegal vapes were seized in the UK, whilst the National Crime Agency has identified
vape shops as one of the primary ‘‘cash-intensive’’ businesses used by organised
crime groups to launder money.

Under Liberal Democrat plans, all local authorities would be given the power to seek
closure orders to swiftly shut down any shops engaging in criminality. These powers
would be expanded to allow repeat offenders to be closed permanently, while premises where the ownership is under question would remain shut until the owner comes forward and faces up to the law.

The party is also urging the Government to ensure that the upcoming licensing
regime for tobacco and vape products allows councils to reject applications based on
“cumulative impact assessments”, meaning businesses would need to prove they
are meeting unmet local demand to secure a licence to sell vapes.

The measures would seek to breathe life back into Britain’s high streets, many of
which have been decimated by the Government’s increase in NIC’s and an unfair
business rates system. Small high street businesses including hospitality have been
hit particularly hard, with analysis from the Centre for Social Justice revealing that
there were seven pubs lost for every new vape shop over the last decade.

“High streets are at the heart of our communities, but too often they are being
hollowed out and taken over by vape shops - some of which are backed by decidedly
dodgy business practices said Liberal Democrat Home Affairs Spokesperson Max
Wilkinson MP.

Chief Executive of the Chartered Trading Standards Institute, John Herriman
said:
‘’Local Authority Trading Standards have shared significant enforcement challenges
with regards to shutting down dodgy shops. We are calling on the Government to
urgently provide Trading Standards and others with the resources and powers we
need to more effectively address the proliferation of dodgy shops on our high
streets.''

Tom said:
“Our high street are at risk of being hollowed out. Local people deserve a say about
how their local shopping areas look and feel.
“Central Government should hand over extra powers to trading standards officers so
they can effectively shut down every business found to be engaging in illicit activities.
The current powers given to local authorities just don’t cut the mustard.
“Cowboy vape shop vendors are booming and the police are having to seize millions
of illegal vapes. We need an urgent clamp down on this industry now to help save
our high streets.''