Harrogate and Knaresborough MP Tom Gordon has called for new powers to close cowboy vendors and restrict illicit vape shops on the high street.
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.
Tom Gordon has warned of the ‘hollowing out’ of the Great British high streets, as figures show seven pubs have been lost for every new vape shop over the last decade.
New polling commissioned by the Liberal Democrats has revealed 3 in 5 Brits want to see more power to control the number of vape shops on their highstreet, as the party calls for a crackdown on cowboy vendors and restore our high streets.
The polling also found just 1 in 10 were against communities having more powers over the number of vape shops.
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.”
He added:
“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."
Concerns have grown as the number of vape shops on British high streets have skyrocketed by 1,200% in the past decade.
ver 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.
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."
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