The Portsmouth South MP joined Trading Standards, police and public health for their crackdown on the sale and supply of illegal tobacco products.
The time spent with the team follows the Government’s announcement that the upcoming High Streets Strategy is set to include measures to prevent the spread of dodgy shops in local communities.
The upcoming strategy will allow local people to take back control of their high streets and town centres by empowering councils in England to say no to new betting shops and vapes stores.
The upcoming strategy will include specifics measures to regulate vape shops included in the Tobacco and Vapes Bill, which is currently progressing through Parliament.
Among other things, if passed, the Bill will provide powers to introduce a dedicated licensing scheme for the retail sale of tobacco products, herbal smoking products, cigarette papers, vapes and nicotine products. This will significantly improve the regulation surrounding vape shops.
Additionally, the bill will close loopholes and ban all vapes and nicotine products (and non-nicotine vapes) from being sold to under 18s as well as banning the free distribution of these products and their sale from vending machines.
Commenting, Stephen Morgan, MP for Portsmouth South, said:
“It was hugely helpful to spend time on the frontline with Trading Standards and local police following concerns raised with me by constituents sick of traders not only acting as fronts for organised crime but also taking away crucial opportunities from legitimate local small businesses.
“I share our community’s frustrations on this and want to see more action taken to tackle these issues.
“ I welcome the upcoming High Streets Strategy, which will allow local people to take back control of both our shopping areas and city centre”.
Communities Secretary Steve Reed said:
“We are seeing a proliferation of a certain type of shop on too many high streets”
“We need to restrict the numbers of these establishments that are opening so Labour is giving councils the power to do so, which they have not had previously.”
