The black market is growing – and is forecast to continue to grow when the tobacco display ban comes into force for small stores in April.
The authorities need financial support to help track down duty-evading smugglers and counterfeit manufacturers. And yet an increasing number of local authorities are signing up to the Local Government Declaration on Tobacco Control.
Case study: Hackney Council
Ranjan Patel, Marsh Hill News, Hackney
“We know it’s going on in the backstreets and we know that people are selling it but I don’t feel we’re getting any help from the council or Government. If it’s going on, then councils should be supporting whoever wants to help and doing everything they can to stamp it out.
“It’s only going to get worse when the gantries go dark and if plain packaging comes along – that’s when we’ll really know how widespread it is.
“But if the councils are refusing help, who can we turn to?
This strongly worded document pledges that the authority signing up to it will not accept “any partnerships, payments gifts and services, monetary or in kind or research funding” from the “commercial and vested interests of the tobacco industry”.
The same declaration, however, acknowledges the illicit trade in tobacco not only funds criminal gangs but encourages children to smoke.
Local authorities are still signing up to the declaration – the total now stands at 68 out of 326 authorities – and yet the Local Government Association (LGA) has hit out at the counterfeit trade, citing problem areas and blackspots, some of which have signed up.
Imperial Tobacco’s anti-illicit trade manager Peter Nelson said working with tobacco companies is of vital importance for local councils: “Imperial Tobacco has successfully worked with and continues to assist many trading standards departments, as well as other law enforcement agencies throughout the UK.
“In light of Government budgetary cuts that have severely impacted many trading standards departments, it is vital that all interested parties work collaboratively to maximise the impact against the organised crime groups who benefit from this illicit trade in order to protect hard-working retailers and our local communities,” he said.
His words back those of Jeremy Blackburn, head of communications at JTI. “Given this renewed push by the LGA to reduce the black market trade, we would also urge them to put a stop to the adoption by councils of the Local Government Declaration on Tobacco Control, and the misinterpretation of it by certain councils that have signed it,” he said.
“Both local Councils and the UK Government must support a joined-up approach to tackling this blight on our communities. By ignoring valuable information from JTI they risk allowing criminality to flourish.”
Is there a big illicit trade in your area? Call us ANONYMOUSLY on 020 7689 3376 and we will get in touch with the authorities on your behalf
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