Issue date: 21 September 2026
A Crawley shop has been banned from selling vapes, tobacco products and cigarette papers for one year following repeated underage sales.
West Sussex County Council Trading Standards successfully secured a Restricted Premises Order against Capital Direct Ltd, trading as Broadway Bazaar, at 28-32 The Broadway, Crawley.
The action follows a long-running investigation into the sale of vapes to children. Trading Standards first identified an underage sale during a test purchase operation in January 2024, while further incidents were reported in 2024 and 2025.
In August 2025, Capital Direct Ltd pleaded guilty to two offences of selling vapes to underage customers.
Despite the prosecution, reports of underage sales continued. Evidence presented to the court included reports of a 14-year-old being sold vapes in 2026, as well as a failed Sussex Police test purchase involving a 17-year-old volunteer.
The court granted the order for one year after hearing evidence of continuing sales of age-restricted products to children.
The order prohibits the sale of tobacco products, cigarette papers and nicotine products, including vapes, from the premises for one year and is the first Restricted Premises Order obtained by West Sussex Trading Standards.
Cllr Tracie Bangert, Cabinet Member for Community Support, Fire and Rescue said: "The repeated sale of vapes to children is unacceptable. This business had been warned, prosecuted and given opportunities to improve, yet reports of underage sales continued.
"This is the first Restricted Premises Order secured by West Sussex Trading Standards and demonstrates our commitment to protecting young people from harm. We will continue to work with Sussex Police and other partners to take action against businesses that ignore the law."
Any residents with concerns about businesses selling illicit tobacco should phone 0808 223 1133 or report this online on our website.
While all tobacco products are harmful, illicit tobacco poses additional risks and undermines efforts to protect our communities. Tobacco use remains one of the leading causes of preventable death and disease and increases the risk of a range of serious conditions, including cancer, heart disease, stroke, chronic respiratory disease and dementia. Action against the illicit tobacco trade is an important part of our efforts to create a healthier, smokefree West Sussex.
The best way to protect your health is to quit smoking. Free support is available to help people stop, including vapes and nicotine replacement products such as patches, gum and lozenges. Residents can visit the Smokefree West Sussex webpage or call 0330 222 7980 to access digital, telephone and face-to-face support.
