Police Express Concerns Over Child Exploitation Involving Vapes and Sexual Acts

Law enforcement authorities have expressed apprehension that adults may be exploiting children by offering to purchase vapes for them in exchange for sexual acts. Last week, officers from Hertfordshire Police conducted visits to six establishments in Watford, prompted by suspicions that these shops might be selling vapes to individuals below the legal age. The police stated: “Recent intelligence also suggests that children could be being sexually exploited in return for vapes, which they cannot legally buy themselves.” In the course of the operation, 800 illicit vapes were confiscated from two locations, and “officers took the opportunity to raise awareness of child sexual exploitation (CSE), how to spot the signs and how to report it”. Sgt Dan Piper, a member of the force’s Halo team, commented: “Our team specifically investigates child sexual exploitation. “As part of our investigations, we have learnt that children could be exploited in return for vapes. Although an adult may purchase the vape, they could then give this to a child in return for sexual acts.” He further noted that officers engaged with retailers within the town “to highlight the signs of CSE and handed out leaflets to raise awareness”. He elaborated on the indicators, stating: “Signs to look out for include adults befriending young people and buying them things, noticing adults that attend locations with different young people, younger individuals hanging around locations and interacting with older people and younger people loitering late at night or at times when they should be at school or college for example,”. He added: “We also reminded shopkeepers that vapes should only be sold to people aged 18 and above. To sell any of these products to anyone under the age limit is considered a criminal offence.” Updates on news from Beds, Herts, and Bucks can be accessed via BBC Sounds, Facebook, Instagram, and X. This material is copyrighted by the BBC in 2024, with all rights reserved. The BBC does not assume responsibility for the content of external sites and details its approach to external linking.