Essex: Report Under-Age Sales Online

It is going to be easier to report a shop or supermarket if you think it selling items like alcohol, fireworks or tobacco to children.

Anyone who has concerns about a particular store will now be able to report it online via Essex County Council's website, as well as those of Braintree District Council and Brentwood Borough Council. 

Essex County Councillor Roger Walters, Member with responsibility for Trading Standards said: "The online reporting form will enable consumers to report issues of under aged sales to any of the three websites. We will then be able to exchange and share that information with ease ensuring that we are using the intelligence to its full potential. 

"Working with officers from Braintree District Council and Brentwood Borough Council is helping our Trading Standards officers to make better use of resources by carrying out visits on each other's behalf and incorporating aspects of each other's work into our own to prevent unnecessary burden to businesses. 

"It means we can do more with the resources we have in terms of staff, equipment and specialist skills, helping us to provide a higher level of protection to our residents and local businesses." 

It is aimed at targetting shops that sell items with age-restrictions - such as alcohol, tobacco, knives, fireworks, solvents, spray paints, DVDS and computer games - to those who are not old enough to buy them. 

Find the online form on: 

Braintree District Council's website (www.braintree.gov.uk) 

Brentwood Borough Council's website (www.brentwood.gov.uk) 

Essex County Council's website (www.essex.gov.uk)