Commitment to tackling serious and organised crimes linked to vapes

Commitment to North East communities as tackling serious and organised crimes linked to vapes becomes a priority.

Officers and staff from the North East Regional Organised Crime Unit (NEROCU) have reinforced their commitment to tackling organised crime that use vapes as a tool for child exploitation.

The work, under the name Operation Everett, is being led by NEROCU’s Tackling Organised Exploitation (TOEX) team who will be working with, local police forces, Trading Standards, Public Health, regional Police and Crime Commissioners, and local councils to protect the vulnerable and dismantle these criminal groups.

The reinforced pledge comes after a recent initiative in Durham and is a proactive data gathering and evidence led operation which use advanced technology and innovative techniques unique to the TOEX team to build an intelligence picture of exploitation around these products and then co-ordinate police activity to target suspects and protect those at risk.

Work with partners will involve targeted strikes, test purchases, support for those vulnerable, education in schools and urging the public to report any information or concerns they have.

TOEX Detective Sergeant Chris Mootien, said: “While legal, nicotine-containing vapes are proven to help people quit using lethal tobacco products, we’re starting to see more vapes used for child exploitation the same way we see the use of alcohol, drugs and cigarettes.

“Criminals are using them to sexually exploit children or to groom them into other organised crimes like county lines and drug supply.

“There is also the added risk of retailers selling illegal and non-compliant vapes which carry the added harm of being untested and unrestricted, and we’re working alongside partners to stop the sale of these illegal vapes altogether through strike days and test purchasing.”

DS Mootien added: “We will not tolerate this kind of exploitation in the North East. It is harmful to children and wider communities and is something we remain committed to tackling in all forms.

“We also know that the proceeds of selling illegal vapes often gets used to fund wider serious and organised crime like trafficking, modern slavery and drugs and firearms supply.

“By reporting any information around the selling of illegal vapes or exploitation, you can help protect those at risk who are vulnerable to exploitation.”

You can report information to your local police force via their website.