A Freedom of Information request has revealed that the council seized 9,940 illegal vaping products in 2025, an increase of 3,269.5 per cent since 2021, when Trading Standards officers confiscated just 295 illicit devices. The number of premises identified as selling illegal vaping products has also significantly increased. In 2021, only one store was found to be involved in the sale of illegal products. Councillor Kieron Wilson, BCP Council Cabinet Member for Housing and Regulatory Services, said: “Keeping residents safe is our priority, and the seizure of nearly 10,000 illegal vaping and tobacco products last year shows just how important this work is. “Illegal products can pose serious health risks and are often too easily accessible to children and young people.