Licensing and Trading Standards operation seizes over £14,000 worth of illegal products

Licensing and Trading Standards operation seizes over £14,000 worth of illegal products

Dear Resident,

In response to community concerns, on Wednesday 23rd September 2026, Wakefield Central Neighbourhood Policing and Licensing Teams participated in a joint operation with Trading Standards and Wakefield Council targeting the illegal sales of cigarettes, tobacco and oversize/single use electronic cigarettes.
 
Seven premises in Wakefield City Centre were visited throughout the day and illegal products with a retail value of over £14,000 were identified and seized. The sales of these dangerous and prohibited items are now being investigated by Trading Standards.

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. Police will also continue to work with these premises to prevent the continuation of this criminality.  Should these illegal sales not stop, then applications to the Magistrate Court for closure orders will be considered.

Members of the public are encouraged to report any suspected illegal sales directly to Trading Standards at https://www.wyjs.org.uk/contact-us/ or via West Yorkshire Police at https://www.westyorkshire.police.uk/report-it