A Crawley business has been prosecuted and fined for selling vapes to children and stocking illegal naphthalene mothballs. An employee has also faced prosecution for personally selling a vape to a minor.
On 26 February 2025, Trading Standards Officers from West Sussex County Council conducted a test purchase at Broadway Bazaar, 28–32 The Broadway, Crawley. A 17-year-old volunteer was sold a disposable vape without being asked for age verification.
A second test purchase on 27 March 2025 revealed further breaches, when a 16-year-old was sold a vape by shop manager Mr Tarloch Singh, again without being asked for identification.
These incidents followed a previous violation on 19 January 2024, when Mr Singh sold a vape to a 15-year-old. At that time, both Mr Singh and the business received formal warnings and detailed guidance on complying with age-restricted sales laws.
During the investigation, officers also discovered that Broadway Bazaar was selling naphthalene mothballs, a substance banned in biocidal products since 2008 due to its harmful effects on health and the environment. Officers seized 22 packets of the illegal product on 19 March 2025, following an initial purchase on 13 March.
The company behind Broadway Bazaar, Capital Direct Ltd, denied responsibility, claiming the shop was operated by another company during the time of the offences. However, investigations confirmed Capital Direct Ltd was in control.
Appearing at Crawley Magistrates’ Court on 21 August, Capital Direct Ltd pleaded guilty to two offences under the Children and Families Act 2014 (underage vape sales) and one offence under the Health and Safety at Work Act 1974 (illegal mothballs).
The company was fined £2,250, ordered to pay a £900 victim surcharge, and £1,206 in costs, totalling £4,356.
Mr Tarloch Singh also pleaded guilty to one offence under the Children and Families Act 2014 and received a 12-month conditional discharge and a £26 victim surcharge.
Cllr Duncan Crow, Cabinet Member for Community Support, Fire and Rescue, said: “Protecting young people and vulnerable residents is a key priority in our Council Plan. Our Trading Standards Officers always aim to support businesses with advice and guidance, but when warnings are ignored, we will take firm enforcement action.”
Any residents with concerns about businesses selling age-restricted products to children should phone 0808 223 1133 or report this online to Trading Standards at https://www.westsussex.gov.uk/business-and-consumers/trading-standards-information-for-consumers/report-an-incident-or-issue-to-trading-standards/
