Havering Businesses Pass Underage Vape and Knife Sales Test

Businesses across Havering have been praised after refusing to sell knives and vapes to underage volunteers during a recent Trading Standards operation.

Havering Council’s Trading Standards team carried out a series of test purchase visits at five premises in Hornchurch and Rainham as part of ongoing efforts to protect young people from accessing age-restricted products.

The operation focused on preventing the sale of knives, vapes and access to sunbed sessions for anyone under the age of 18.

To help carry out the checks, Trading Standards officers were joined by volunteers from the Metropolitan Police Cadets, all of whom were under 18. The young volunteers entered the businesses and attempted to purchase knives and vapes, also known as e-cigarettes.

In a positive result for the borough, every business visited refused to sell the age-restricted products.

The operation forms part of Havering Council’s continued work to tackle underage access to potentially harmful products and to ensure retailers are complying with the law.

Selling knives, vapes or other age-restricted goods to anyone under 18 is illegal and businesses found breaching the regulations can face prosecution, even for a first offence.

While enforcement action is available where necessary, Trading Standards officers also work closely with local businesses to provide guidance, support training requirements and help retailers understand their legal responsibilities.

However, passing a test purchase does not guarantee future inspections. Businesses can be revisited at any time without warning as part of ongoing compliance checks.

The Council also continues to encourage retailers to sign up to the Challenge 25 scheme, which asks businesses to request identification from anyone who appears younger than 25 before selling age-restricted products.

Councillor Terry Brown, Havering Council’s Cabinet Member for Planning and Public Protections, welcomed the results.

“We’re pleased that these local businesses are supporting us and are helping to keep our young people safer across the borough by not selling products like this to anyone under the legal age.”

He added:

“None of the businesses broke the rules on this particular operation, but our teams are regularly making these visits. This means we can make sure everyone is continuing to comply.

“We will always take strong action on those who don’t comply, which may include prosecution.”

The successful operation will provide reassurance to parents and residents that local businesses are taking their responsibilities seriously and playing their part in helping to keep Havering’s young people safe.

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