East Suffolk Council
Improving community safety in Lowestoft
Council officers have taken part in a multi-agency day of action to improve community safety in the Kirkley and Whitton areas of Lowestoft.
Officers from East Suffolk Council’s Communities, Housing, Fraud, Environmental Protection and Licensing teams joined forces with Suffolk Trading Standards, Suffolk Fire and Rescue Service, and Suffolk Police for a day of checks and inspections, aimed at strengthening community safety.
During the day, teams addressed concerns over anti-social behaviour, and provided support for local businesses regarding business rates and licensing. Several bags of litter were collected, and a small amount of fly-tipping was addressed.
Suffolk Trading Standards and Suffolk Police led an operation concerning the sale of illicit tobacco products. Using a tobacco detection dog, a large quantity of illicit tobacco and non-compliant vapes were found at a local shop. In total, 1,744 packets of cigarettes (34,880 individual cigarettes), 730 tobacco pouches and 454 vapes which were all suspected to be illegal were seized and an investigation is underway.
Cllr Jan Candy, East Suffolk’s cabinet member for Community Health said: “As with previous multi-agency impact days held across East Suffolk, the event in Lowestoft enabled us to speak to residents and identify current or arising issues. Residents were pleased to see the teams in action, and we are grateful to those who took time to speak to us.
The Lowestoft event follows similar enforcement days held recently in Saxmundham and Bungay.