Vapes seized in Middleton as officers tackle ASB, unlicensed premises, and illicit substances

Rochdale’s Neighbourhood Team are continuing to target illicit vapes, illegal products, and unlicensed premises with days of action with partner agencies within the community.

On Friday (30 August), officers joined members of Rochdale’s Trading Standards team and licensing officers to visit a range of businesses and premises, including takeaways, small shops, pubs, and other locations suspected of illegal practices in the Middleton area.

The ongoing work falls under the umbrella of Operation Venture – a force-wide initiative to tackle serious and violent crime across Greater Manchester. By targeting businesses illegally selling vapes and alcohol, officers can prevent further criminality that could follow – such as ASB, street drinking, littering, and further issues including addiction.

During the work, officers and Trading Standards seized hundreds of vapes, as well as other illicit products not legal in the UK, issuing the appropriate paperwork and notices to businesses.

Other stores were found to be registered to the wrong owners, and were made to close pending the correct arrangements being made.

Further interventions will follow where repeat offenders are identified and do not make the adequate changes.

Chief Inspector Bryn Saville, from GMP’s Rochdale district, said: “Tackling the root causes of issues such as ASB can mean we markedly 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.

“We work regularly with police and this latest operation in Middleton uncovered a number of concerning issues that we will follow up. If anyone has concerns about a business they should contact us and we will look into it.”