Call for help to combat illegal tobacco sellers

Anti-smoking experts are calling on people to help them beat illegal cigarette barons.

Trading Standards have received hundreds of pieces of information on where illegal tobacco is being sold following a campaign aimed at protecting kids from smoking.

Information about sales from places like private homes, pubs and shops has been flooding in since antismoking group Fresh ran the Keep It Out campaign during January and February.

The campaign generates intelligence for trading standards, police and HMRC to take action

against dealers in local communities and highlights the problems that illegal tobacco causes

in getting more kids hooked.

This year alone, 274 pieces of information relating to illegal trading in the the North

East and trading standards officers have been using anonymous tip-offs to build information on local sales and take enforcement action. Ailsa Rutter OBE, director of Fresh, said: “Nobody wants children to smoke. But there are people out there who will sell illegal tobacco to anyone, regardless of their age.

“We’ve had reports of people selling to children even when they’re in school uniform.

“Most people now see illegal tobacco sales as a danger to kids and they don’t want it taking place in their

neighbourhoods. That’s why we’ve seen hundreds of intelligence reports coming in.”

To anonymously report illegal tobacco sales, go to keepit-out.co.uk or call 0300 999 0000.

The information will be treated in complete confidence.