Underage police volunteer served with E-Cigarette at four shops in Southport and Formby

Student Constable Megan Westerside, currently stationed with the North Sefton neighbourhood Team at Southport Police Station, yesterday took part in a licencing operation, targeting the illegal sale of vape products to children. Nicotine products are not to be sold to under 18’s in similar legislation to alcohol, and incidents show us that in several cases where vapes are being sold to minors, these incidents are linked with anti-social behaviour in the same areas. 

Yesterday, Constable Westerside and Neighbourhood Constable Jackson attended 10 premises in the Southport and Formby area that are all linked to anti-social behaviour. Our underage volunteer was served an E-Cigarette in four of those premises and all four of those will be invited in for questioning by trading standards.

More education in regard to vapes will be given, as traders knowledge of the legislation compared to the sale of alcohol needs to improve.

In a related incident, a 15 year old girl from Southport was arrested recently on suspicion of theft of vapes from a shop in Southport and assault of a member of staff after being detained for the theft. 

Investigations into the 10 teenagers arrested for the assault of another 15 year old girl are continuing and an update will be provided as soon as possible.