Trading‑standards cuts limit enforcement of new vape‑licensing scheme in London
Reduced funding leaves boroughs such as Enfield with one officer, while illegal vape sales were recorded in a third of test purchases
News London evidence indexOpen analysis ▾
Named chief executive and specific figures with sources raise trust to 74.
Higher is stronger
Explains impact, includes quotes, specific data, and clear narrative, scoring 87.
Higher is stronger
Measured language, no sensationalism; headline matches content.
Lower is better
BBC London reported that budget cuts have left trading‑standards officers unable to fully enforce the new licensing requirements for vape retailers introduced by the Tobacco and Vapes Act in May 2026. The shortfall means many boroughs lack the staff needed to stop illegal sales to children.
Youth vaping rates drive policy focus
Mayor's disability action plan leaves 1.2 million Londoners still facing barriers
The plan, unveiled on 14 September at City Hall, pledges new transport, safety and housing measures but critics say it lacks ambition and funding.
Action on Smoking and Health found that almost a fifth of 11‑to‑17‑year‑olds in England have tried vaping. The figure, published in the national study, highlights the scale of the public‑health challenge that the 2026 Act seeks to address.
Funding cuts erode enforcement capacity
John Herriman, chief executive of the Chartered Trading Standards Institute, told BBC London that trading‑standards funding was cut by 39% and regulatory services reduced by 23% between 2010 and 2025. He said the consequence of those cuts is "quite significant" and will become apparent over time.
GLA condemns Green‑led boroughs for refusing immigration raid cooperation
The motion, tabled by Havering leader Keith Prince, criticised six Green‑run councils that have stopped assisting Home Office searches, while the Home Office reported sharp rises in arrests and raids.
"You also get real variation in London between some boroughs that can have two to three, and Tower Hamlets where they had 11 or 12."
John Herriman, chief executive, Chartered Trading Standards Institute
Herriman explained that Enfield at one point operated with a single trading‑standards officer, while Tower Hamlets had between eleven and twelve officers. He added that staffing levels have risen slightly since that low point, but the disparity between boroughs remains.
Test purchases reveal widespread illegal sales
The Chartered Trading Standards Institute conducted a one‑off review of sales compliance, using 422 test purchases of disposable vapes made by young people. Illegal sales were recorded in 33% of those attempts, according to the review cited by BBC London.
Trading‑standards officers have the power to seize illicit products and issue closure notices to retailers that repeatedly sell to minors. Herriman warned that without sufficient "boots on the ground", organised crime could gain a foothold on high streets.
New licensing scheme faces enforcement gap
The Tobacco and Vapes Act requires every vape retailer to hold a licence, a measure intended to curb under‑age sales. Enforcement of the scheme will fall to local trading‑standards teams, many of which remain under‑resourced after years of austerity.
Residents in boroughs such as Enfield and Tower Hamlets are advised to report suspected illegal sales to their local trading‑standards office. The council will review licence applications and may issue closure notices where breaches are proven.
The next formal step is a series of inspections scheduled by borough trading‑standards departments over the coming months. Those inspections will determine whether retailers comply with the licensing conditions and will inform any further funding appeals to the Greater London Authority.
Questions this report answers
+How many 11‑to‑17‑year‑olds have tried vaping?
Action on Smoking and Health reports that almost one in five 11‑to‑17‑year‑olds in England have tried vaping. The figure underscores the scale of the issue that the new licensing scheme aims to address.
+What funding cuts have trading‑standards teams faced?
John Herriman said trading‑standards funding fell by 39% and regulatory services were reduced by 23% between 2010 and 2025. Those cuts have left some boroughs with very few officers, limiting enforcement capacity.
+What does the new licensing scheme require of vape retailers?
The Tobacco and Vapes Act mandates that all vape retailers obtain a licence. Enforcement will be carried out by local trading‑standards officers, who can seize illegal products and issue closure notices for non‑compliance.
News London Desk
This article was written at the News London news desk from the reporting of the outlets listed below it. Drafting is done by a language model under human editorial supervision — there is no reporter behind this byline, and we would rather say so than invent one.
How stories are produced and scoredWho runs News LondonCorrections
The London Ledger
A considered capital-wide edit delivered each morning.
More Coverage in Council & Politics
Mayor's disability action plan leaves 1.2 million Londoners still facing barriers
GLA condemns Green‑led boroughs for refusing immigration raid cooperation
