12th December 2023 - The MET Police SW Safer Schools Team have shared the following:

Dear Parent / Carer,

As a Schools Team we have recently been made aware of vapes containing high levels of chemicals that have caused some children to lose consciousness resulting in hospitalisation.

The particular brand of vape that these children have been using is called a Cali Pen or Cali Bar but it is unlikely to be restricted to just these brands.

As you may be aware, vapes have not been tested medically to determine either short-term or long-term effects on the health of users.  There are many products that are unregulated coming into the UK and being sold illegally to children.  In other parts of London, some of these vapes have been found to contain dangerous and addictive drugs such as ‘spice’ and high levels of THC, the psychoactive chemical found in cannabis.  

The effects of inhaling vapes are unpredictable and it can be very easy to accidentally take a large dose of an unknown chemical. 

Selling any vape to a person under the age of 18 is illegal, although by their bright colours and names sounding like something you would purchase in a sweet shop, it is clear that these products are marketed at children.  Sadly, the use of vapes by children is now becoming endemic and the majority of even regulated vapes contain high levels of nicotine ensuring that their users will become dependent upon them.

Please educate your children on the dangers of using vapes and the unknown short-term and long-term effects on their health.

If you are aware of any shops selling vapes to children, please contact your Local Authority Licensing Team who will investigate these allegations.  Similarly, if you are aware of anyone advertising vapes that contain illegal drugs, please contact your local police team or report this via Crimestoppers (please note that vapes containing CBD with a THC content are illegal in the UK).

Kind regards,

Inspector Graham Norman

SW police Safer Schools Team 

Graham.norman2@met.police.uk