|
Dear Resident, In response to community concerns, on Wednesday 18th February 2026 Wakefield West Neighbourhood Policing and Licensing Teams participated in a joint operation with Trading Standards, Public Health and Wakefield Council targeting the illegal sales of cigarettes, tobacco, and oversize/single use electronic cigarettes.
Three premises in Ossett and Horbury, and one in Lupset were visited throughout the day and illegal products with a retail value of over £21,000 were identified and seized. The sales of these dangerous and prohibited items are now being investigated by Trading Standards.
Linda Davis, Head of Trading Standards (Protecting Communities) said “I would like to thank all the partners involved and members of the public for reporting illegal sales and encourage everyone to continue doing so to reduce the harm caused by tobacco in our communities. Far from being a victimless crime, the illegal trade in tobacco costs government billions each year in lost revenue, makes it easier for children to start smoking, takes advantage of cash-strapped families, and helps fund organised crime.”
West Yorkshire Police remain committed to working in partnership to tackle the illegal sales of products which are having such a detrimental effect within our communities, and would encourage members of the public to report any like incidents directly to Trading Standards at https://www.wyjs.org.uk/trading-standards/ or via West Yorkshire Police at https://www.westyorkshire.police.uk/report-it
| 
