A joint operation involving police, trading standards officers, HMRC and the Home Office has resulted in the seizure of significant quantities of cannabis, vapes and alcohol from three convenience stores in Bristol, following concerns raised by local residents about criminal activity in the area.
The day of action targeted three outlets in Fishponds simultaneously on Tuesday 17 March, with Avon and Somerset Police working alongside Bristol City Council’s Trading Standards, Her Majesty’s Revenue and Customs and the Home Office. The operation examined the businesses for compliance with trading regulations, product safety standards, stock legitimacy and labour practices, as well as looking for wider signs of exploitation and criminality.
Officers recovered 133 crates of lager and dozens of boxes of vapes believed to be linked to the stores during the operation. Attention was also drawn to two suspicious vehicles parked nearby. A search of one yielded 74 boxes of vapes, while the other contained 617 individual bags of cannabis with an estimated street value of between £6,000 and £10,000. No arrests have been made at this stage, though an investigation is ongoing.
Neighbourhoods Inspector Richard Jones described the operation as “hugely successful” and said it illustrated the value of acting on community intelligence. He pointed to a notable increase in the number of convenience stores in inner city areas and acknowledged ongoing concerns from residents about the sale of vapes and e-cigarettes, as well as the supply of controlled substances. “We encourage residents to continue reporting such concerns to us,” he said, “because we listen to them.”
Councillor Stephen Williams, Chair of Bristol City Council’s Public Health and Communities policy committee, said the operation sent “a clear message to those in our city who think they can flout the rules and put the public at risk.” He credited residents for providing intelligence that had helped make the action possible.
The operation formed part of the Neighbourhood Policing Guarantee, a government programme aimed at strengthening visible policing across England and Wales to tackle antisocial behaviour and improve crime prevention. Further enforcement activity is expected as the investigation continues.
