Police have raised concerns that children could be exploited by adults who offer to buy them vapes in exchange for sex.

Officers from Hertfordshire Police visited six premises in Watford last week following concerns that stores could be selling vapes to underage children.

They said: “Recent intelligence also suggests that children may be sexually exploited in exchange for vapes, which they cannot legally purchase themselves. »

During the operation, 800 illegal vapes were seized in two premises and “agents took the opportunity to raise awareness about child sexual exploitation (CSE), how to spot the signs and how to report it”.

Sgt Dan Piper of the force’s Halo team; said: “Our team specifically investigates the sexual exploitation of children.

“Through our investigations, we learned that children could be exploited in exchange for vapes. Even if an adult can purchase vapes, they could then give them to a child in exchange for sexual acts.”

He said officers spoke to retailers in the city “to highlight CSE signs and distributed flyers to raise awareness.”

“Signs to watch out for include adults befriending and buying things from young people, noticing adults frequenting places with different young people, younger individuals hanging around places and interacting with older people. elderly people and young people who hang out late at night or at times when they should be at school or college for example,” he said.

“We have also reminded traders that vapes should only be sold to people aged 18 and over. Selling any of these products to anyone under the age limit is considered an offense criminal.”