Police launch crackdown on vape after teens as young as 14 admitted to hospital
By Sky News, September 26, 2025Police in London are launching a crackdown on vape-spiking.
It comes after a case in the southeast of the capital where vapes were tampered with “cannabis products”, leading to teenagers as young as 14 being admitted to hospital, the Metropolitan Police said.
Under the measures, new detection equipment is to be used by officers during checks at bars, nightclubs, party boats, music festivals, concerts and schools to test vapes suspected of containing drugs such as THC or spice, the force said.
Police will also use a range of drug-testing equipment, including near infra-red detectors that can test powders and tablets suspected of containing drugs.
Also watch: Puff or Pass? The truth about Vapes vs Cigarettes
The Met received more than 2,000 allegations of spiking between March 2024 and March 2025. However, officers believe the true scale to be higher due to under-reporting.
Women and girls are disproportionately affected, with 66% of victims in August 2025 being female.
Met Deputy Assistant Commissioner Ben Russell said: “Spiking is an abhorrent crime that we are tackling head on, whether it takes place in a nightclub, a private venue, or on the Thames.
“The ongoing trial of new vape-spiking detection kits is just one example of how we are innovating to get ahead of offenders and better protect the public.”
He added: “If you think you’ve been spiked, please come forward – being spiked is never your fault, it’s always the fault of the perpetrator. The sooner we know, the more we can do to support you, collect evidence and stop dangerous offenders from targeting others.”
Landmark study links children vaping to host of health issues
Children who vape are three times more likely to go on to be smokers, according to new analysis which linked youth vaping to a series of health issues.
Vapers were not only more likely to smoke later in life, but they were also more likely to smoke more frequently and intensely, according to experts from the University of York and the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine (LSHTM).
The researchers analysed 56 reviews on 384 studies on youth vaping in an umbrella review, with some 21 of these reviews looking at the use of e-cigarettes in young people and later cigarette smoking.
The largest global review on vaping in young people also discovered that there is an increased risk of respiratory illnesses, like asthma or asthma exacerbation, and substance abuse, including drinking and marijuana use.
The study also suggested there are links between youth vaping and pneumonia, bronchitis, lower total sperm counts, dizziness, headaches, and migraines.
A link between depression and suicidal thoughts among young vapers was also identified.