Bedford Borough Council's Trading Standards Department have successfully prosecuted two traders for selling vapes to underage customers. Mr. Lal Stanikzai, Director of Mobilise Group Ltd, and Mr. Adill Hussain, Director of Beauty Cosmetics (Bedford) Ltd, faced penalties for their unlawful actions.
At Luton Magistrates Court on Friday March 1, 2024, Mr. Stanikzai and Mr. Hussain were each fined £1,600 and ordered to pay a victim surcharge of £640. Additionally, they were directed to cover the Council's full costs, resulting in significant combined financial penalties that totalled over £20,000. These penalties underscore the seriousness with which Bedford Borough Council addresses breaches of regulations aimed at protecting young people.
Mr. Stanikzai, operating over twenty stores across England, including one in the Harpur Centre, Bedford, was warned in May 2023 after failing a test purchase. Despite receiving advice on implementing procedures to prevent underage sales, another failure occurred in June 2023. Despite subsequent interviews with Trading Standards, further sales to underage individuals occurred in August, demonstrating a concerning disregard for legal obligations. Mr. Stanikzai’s total financial penalties totalled nearly £11,500.
The minimum legal age to purchase a vape is 18, during these operations children aged 15 to 16 years old were served without being asked to provide ID. Staff indicated they had had no formal training or knowledge of ‘Challenge 25’, a national retailing strategy that encourages staff to request ID from anyone they feel is under 25 when purchasing age-restricted products.
Similarly, Mr. Hussain, who has seven stores nationwide with one in Allhallows, Bedford, received a warning and advice following a failed test purchase in March 2023. Despite this, another incident occurred in June, indicating a failure to address the issue effectively. Mr. Hussain's prior prosecution by Bristol Trading Standards in November 2023 further underscores his repeated disregard for regulations. Mr. Hussain’s total financial penalties totalled nearly £9,000.
Both offending retailers have now ceased the sale of vapes at their Bedford stores.
Councillor Phillippa Martin-Moran-Bryant, Portfolio Holder for Community Safety, Regulatory Services, and Housing, emphasised the Council's commitment to safeguarding young people, stating, "We take the protection of our young residents very seriously. The prosecution of these traders demonstrates our resolve to uphold the law and ensure that businesses operate responsibly, especially when it comes to age-restricted products."
Bedford Borough Council urges all retailers to prioritise staff training and implement robust procedures to prevent the sale of age-restricted products to minors. Failure to do so will result in strict enforcement action.
Businesses and consumers can find help and advice from the Bedford Borough Trading Standards Team, along with how to report any concerns, at https://www.bedford.gov.uk/business/trading-standards.