PORTFOLIO Holder for Environment, Cllr Pauline Tolson visited Thurrock Council’s Trading Standards team last Saturday (17 September) as they raise awareness of the dangers of illicit tobacco.
Wagtails Tobacco Detection Team were joined with members of the local stop smoking service – NELFT, Trading Standards and Licensing joined forces to explain the health risks and the ongoing illegal which this crime funds.
Cllr Tolson said: “We know that smoking is the biggest cause of preventable and premature death in the UK.
“Taxes, making them less accessible and visible in shops, proper regulation, enforcement teams are all there to help people stop smoking and to discourage taking it up in the first place.”
Illicit tobacco usually falls within one of four categories; smuggled – the illegal importation and sale of genuine products but avoiding paying tax, bootlegging – the smuggling of products from low tax places to the UK for resale, Counterfeiting – the illegal manufacturing of products without the consent of the trademark owner or finally, Illicit whites, cigarettes made specifically for the illegal market, brands like Jin Ling and Raquel.
Cllr Tolson explained how lots of work has been done, but there is still more to do. She said: “Since 2000, the size of the illicit cigarette market has been halved with more than 20 billion cigarettes and 2,700 tonnes of hand-rolling tobacco seized and no less that 3,300 criminal prosecutions brought before the courts.
“Recently, council officers have joined up with HMRC and Essex Police after receiving intelligence of small shop traders selling the illegal products. With the help of Wagtails tobacco detection dogs, we seized large quantities of illegal tobacco, bottles of non-duty paid alcohol as well as Essex police seizing an uninsured vehicle.
“We are taking this seriously, the impacts on the public and consumer’s safety is significant with young people often bearing the brunt of the danger of easy access to start or increase smoking.”
If you are aware of illicit tobacco being sold in your area, you can report it by e-mailing [email protected], or calling the National Citizens Advice line on 0345 4040506 who will take details and pass this on to Trading Standards.
