London Trading Standards Capacity Critically Eroded by Austerity

London does not possess the necessary enforcement capacity to effectively crack down on retailers selling vapes to minors, John Herriman, chief executive of the Chartered Trading Standards Institute, told the London Assembly's health committee. He stated that years of austerity have significantly eroded the capital's enforcement capabilities to a critical level.

Underage Vaping Rates and Enforcement Challenges

Nationally, nearly a fifth of 11 to 17-year-olds have tried vaping, with 6% currently doing so. Data indicates a significant increase in underage vaping between 2021 and 2023, although this trend has since stabilised. Experts informed the committee that some retailers profit substantially from these products, leading them to neglect checks on the age of their customers. Trading standards officers typically conduct 'test purchases' to identify retailers illegally selling to children and provide guidance to businesses on legal compliance. They also have the authority to seize illegal products and issue closure notices for repeat offenders.

Impact of Funding Cuts

Herriman explained that trading standards services have been disproportionately affected by austerity measures and budget cutbacks impacting local government. Regulatory services overall saw a 23% funding reduction between 2010 and 2025, while trading standards experienced a 39% decrease in the same period. He noted that this reduction in funding has significant long-term consequences, potentially allowing serious and organised crime to gain a foothold on high streets. Some London boroughs have been severely impacted, with Enfield at one point having only a single trading standards officer. In contrast, Tower Hamlets had between eleven and twelve officers. This variation reflects differing strategic priorities for trading standards services.

Currently, fewer than 2,500 trading standards officers are responsible for enforcing approximately 300 pieces of legislation. Herriman stated that funding cuts force these officers to deprioritise essential tasks, leading to the consequences observed.

New Legislation and Future Enforcement

The Tobacco and Vapes Act, enacted in May 2026, aims to curb vaping among young people and prevent future generations from smoking. A key provision is the introduction of a mandatory licensing scheme for all vape retailers. However, the enforcement of this new scheme will fall to the already under-resourced trading standards teams. Experts also highlighted that the proliferation of youth vaping was driven by a new wave of disposable vaping products earlier this decade, though these are now banned. John Waldron, policy and public affairs manager at Action on Smoking and Health, suggested lessons from successful youth smoking reduction strategies, such as advertising bans and plain packaging, could be applied to vaping. Professor Kevin Fenton, regional director of public health, emphasised the Mayor of London's role in advocating for tobacco control and supporting the implementation of the Vapes Act.