Campaign aims to smash the illegal tobacco trade

A CAMPAIGN has been launched to smash Burton’s illegal tobacco trade after research showed the town was among the crime’s hotspots. Staffordshire County Council called on people to report bent vendors or sales spots such as shops, homes, pubs, clubs, car boot sales, streets or workplaces.
Bosses asked for help after work by trading standards officers and a publicity campaign revealed Burton was blighted by the crime — with Uxbridge, Stapenhill and Winshill all badly affected.
The trade’s dual threat to public health and the economy are of particular concern.
Illicit tobacco, which includes counterfeit and illegal imports, is unregulated and may contain dangerous chemicals.
It also harms legitimate tobacco businesses and is linked to funding crime in the UK and overseas.
“Illicit tobacco can cause people serious harm and people who sell it need to be hit hard,” said John Sutton, licensee of the Blacksmiths Arms, in Main Street, Branston, who has backed the campaign.
“Its sale can really affect communities, not only because of the health risks but because it is hitting legitimate traders in the pocket.
“Responsible licensees, shop keepers and customers should call trading standards if they suspect fake tobacco is being sold.”
The initiative follows a campaign against the trade by the authority last year.
This has since been followed up by seizures of illicit tobacco in Burton by its trading standards team and revenue and customs officials.
Bosses are now keen to maintain the momentum in a bid to slash the number of smokers and, in particular, those who are young.
“Illicit tobacco could entice young people because of its lower cost and, depending on where it is sold, lack of age checks,” said Robert Marshall, the council’s cabinet member for public health.
“It can do real damage, even more so than legitimate tobacco, due to higher levels of toxic chemicals.
“It may also contain all kinds of very dangerous impurities not found in legitimate tobacco.
“Therefore it is very important we do all we can to limit its availability.”
He said smokers should buy tobacco only from legitimate traders to ‘reduce additional harm to them and stop them lining the pockets of criminals’.