Surrey Trading Standards launches campaign to crack down on illegal tobacco

Surrey County Council Trading Standards and Surrey Crimestoppers have launched a campaign to stamp out the trade in illegal tobacco.

Working with the Smokefree Surrey Alliance, the campaign aims to gather intelligence about manufacturers and suppliers of illegal tobacco and raise awareness of the dangers and risks to person and property.

Members of the public are encouraged to come forward with any information about the illegal trade in tobacco including any premises or shopkeepers they believe may be involved.

Councillor Helyn Clack, Surrey County Council’s Cabinet Member for Community Services, said: ‘Action we’re taking in Surrey to clamp down on the sale of illicit tobacco products is helping to reduce smoking rates. A total of 80,000 people die in the UK every year from smoking-related diseases and I would encourage anyone with information about premises involved in this illegal trade to report it.’

For more details, visit the Crimestoppers website.

Listen to Steve Playle, Investigations and Enforcement Manager at Surrey County Council Trading Standards discuss the campaign on BBC Surrey.

Audio courtesy of BBC Surrey.