Greater Manchester Police and Rochdales’ Neighbourhood Team have seized hundreds of illegal vapes in Middleton.
On 30 August 2024, the two teams joined forces as part of ongoing work to tackle serious and violent crime across Greater Manchester.
They visited various businesses and premises, including small shops, pubs, takeaways and other locations suspected of illegal practices in the area.
Some stores were found to be under the wrong ownership and were forced to close until the correct arrangements were made.
Greater Manchester Police said further interventions will follow if repeat offenders are identified and do not make the adequate changes.
The police force also explained that by targeting businesses illegally selling vapes and alcohol, officers can prevent further criminality that could follow – such as anti-social behaviour (ABV), street drinking, littering, and further issues including addiction.
Chief Inspector Bryn Saville from GMP’s Rochdale district emphasised the importance of addressing the root causes of issues like ASB to effectively tackle those responsible: “By preventing illegal vapes and other products such as drug paraphernalia from being sold, we can stop crimes that blight people’s lives. These products have now been through the rigorous tests that are required and can cause untold harm to those using them. We will always seek to protect our communities and punish those responsible for causing those issues.
“Our work with partners ensures we can tackle crime from a variety of directions – closing down businesses, seizing vapes, securing arrests and charging people with crimes.”
Councillor Tricia Ayrton, Rochdale Borough Council’s cabinet member for climate change and environment, said: “As a local authority we have a duty to ensure that products being sold by our local businesses are safe and that consumers and communities are protected from dangerous goods.”
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