ENFORCEMENT officers tasked with clamping down on illegal e-cigarettes seized more than 7,000 items in 2025 a huge increase on the previous year’s statistics.
The 7,314 vapes dwarf 2024’s 444 and represents a 1,547 per cent increase.
Officers from Trading Standards have been targeting shops across the borough having been tipped off about the alleged selling of illegal items, sparking raids on suspected business owners.
Barnsley’s statistics mirror other local authorities’ results in the last financial year, with spikes seen across the country.
Anna Hartley, executive director for public health and communities, said: “We’re committed to tackling the sale of illegal tobacco in Barnsley and taking decisive action to keep local people safe.
“While all tobacco carries serious health risks, illegal and unregulated products can contain higher levels of harmful substances and are often sold cheaply and without health warnings, making them more accessible and appealing.
“We will not tolerate illegal trading in Barnsley and we will take action against businesses that fail to comply with the law.”
Government ministers outlined their plan to tackle youth vaping by reducing the appeal, affordability and availability as part of a pledge for a so-called ‘smoke-free’ generation.
A key part of the legislation has been to reduce the amount of flavours available, make advertising in shops less prominent and clamp down on sellers who opt to sell illicit substances as a result of more stringent measures coming into force.
Single-use vapes are now illegal, after a ban came into force last June.
Lord Michael Bichard, chair of Trading Standards, added: “The protection of communities, public health and the safeguarding of honest businesses who are struggling to compete with the flood of illegal products lies at the heart of what Trading Standards does.
“Trading Standards has seized nearly 1.2 million illegal vapes and more than £26m worth of illicit tobacco so far.
“But the reality is further action is necessary to remove more illegal and in many cases dangerous products from sale.
“Trading Standards officers recognise that it is really important that adult smokers are able to switch to legal compliant vaping products which carry a fraction of the risk of their lethal tobacco habit.
“These figures show we are working incredibly hard to remove illegal vapes from our communities and to support businesses not to sell to children.
“We encourage anyone with information about businesses ignoring the law to report to us so we can continue to target our enforcement resources most effectively.”
Anyone with information about the sale of illicit products in Barnsley, including illegal tobacco or vapes, is encouraged to contact the council’s Trading Standards team by calling 01226 773743.
