Thursday 23 September 2010

Illicit tobacco is not a victimless crime

This week I took part in the first Scottish National Summit on Illicit Tobacco, which brought enforcement organisations, the Scottish Government, retailers, health organisations and community representatives together to discuss the problems of illicit tobacco in Scotland and how to tackle them.

Illicit tobacco is not a victimless crime. Cheap cigarettes or tobacco undermine people’s attempts to stop smoking and make it more likely that tobacco, a lethal product, will get into the hands of children. The cost to the public purse in lost taxation runs into billions, money that is much needed to fund our public services.

Tackling illicit tobacco is one of the few areas of concern we in public health currently share with tobacco companies. But it is a late consensus. For the tobacco companies, smuggling became a high profile issue only when the outcry over non duty paid goods led to new arrangements that penalised their own involvement in alternative retail distribution routes.

Criminal gangs then moved in to profit from the continuing demand for illicit tobacco supplies, and we heard that the same gangs that are involved in bringing drugs and weaponry into communities now count tobacco amongst their commodities. People buying cheap cigarettes or rolling tobacco from a fag house or car boot sale are unknowingly funding serious criminal activities, and in some cases terrorist activities.

Meantime, funding for the Scottish Government’s Enhanced Tobacco Sales Enforcement Programme which brings local authorities into partnership with HM Revenue and Customs to tackle illicit tobacco comes to an end in 2011, and the UK Border Agency which is charged with detection and confiscation at points of entry into the UK is said to be withdrawing funding for three posts at Stranraer Port.

Tobacco whether fake, smuggled or duty-paid, kills. The tobacco epidemic claims one in four of the adult deaths in Scotland ever year and can’t be ignored. We need decisive action to reduce smuggling and continued action to tackle tobacco; because the cost of inaction is unbearable

16 comments:

  1. I can't resist the temptation of suggesting that funds could be transferred directly from ASH Scotland to the Enhanced Tobacco Sales Enforcement Programme and funding three posts at Stranraer Port.

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  2. Sheila, l've asked my man-in van-man if he has any AK47's for sale ... the answer was no. lt was same answer for drugs. He certainly isn't a terrorist.

    His time is taken up looking after his customers (not children, these only exist in your mind)... something the tobacco companies should be doing instead of their appeasement to HMRC.

    Good news you bear too though ... end of funding for Scottish Government’s Enhanced Tobacco Sales Enforcement Programme, UKBA cutting staff and best of all your admittance that you ain't getting the tax off us smokers. You sound desperate Sheila, is funding stopping for ASH too? Happy Days!

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  3. It's simple really Shiela, if there wasn't so much taxation on tobacco products, then there would not be the incentive to smuggle the same.

    What is truly unbearable is ASHS's insistance on pushing for more draconian action against smokers. However, I see a clink of light at the end of the tunnel and the gravy train that is Tobacco Control is coming to an end. Very happy days, indeed!!

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  4. wot's all this then? l'm a terrorist? f##k off you stupid cow! Mind, l'd shoot you.

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  5. . . . and these people want total prohibition? Like in the USA - the booze came back in the end, but the criminals stayed.

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  6. Well lets face it, ASH has lost all touch with reality, and the powers that be don't seem to have the sense to even see the big picture. Over taxation has created the smuggling "problem" and only taking a large amount of tax off the product will solve it. Have they the brains or the guts to do that ?
    I doubt it.


    Tug

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  7. Best news I've had in months. ASH squealing about the lack of funding who'd have thought it.

    Now all that is required is a mass smoke in or two and they will be history.

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  8. "Tackling illicit tobacco is one of the few areas of concern we in public health currently share with tobacco companies."

    You're not in public health, you self-important bitch. You just feed off its back.

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  9. @Smoking Hot. My man in a van also has no weaponry for sale. He sells cheap fags to supplement his income because HMRC take about 60 percent of it. Same deal with the guy I get my DVD's off.

    If you want to stop tobacco smuggling, the answer is a simple one. Lower the tax on domestic tobacco.

    By the way, I like your blogs tagline "working for free tobacco in Scotland". I'll second that!

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  10. ASH Scotland charged £50 a time to go to this ridiculous summit and the only ones there were of course the righteous inc the harpie Arnott.

    Oh how l wish Man-with-Van was a terrorist!!!!!

    http://www.ashscotland.org.uk/ash/8209.1920.html

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  11. What none of these idiots realise (or refuse to) at this summit is, for example, Golden Virginia HRT is £4.00 for 50gm in Belgium and £12.12 in Asda UK.

    Now how many braincells do you have to have to understand the significance of that?

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  12. "Criminal gangs then moved in to profit from the continuing demand for illicit tobacco supplies, and we heard that the same gangs that are involved in bringing drugs and weaponry into communities now count tobacco amongst their commodities. People buying cheap cigarettes or rolling tobacco from a fag house or car boot sale are unknowingly funding serious criminal activities, and in some cases terrorist activities."

    Ask yourself this Sheila, if you personally had not interfered with with the personal lives of 25% of the population would tobacco smuggling be as high as it is?, If Terrorists are indeed using the proceeds of illegal tobacco they are doing so because you personally created the conditions that made it possible by insisting on unreasonable taxation is that not the case?

    Is it not true then Sheila the only terrorists you refer to are in fact Economic Terrorists who have decimated the leisure industry, fostered smuggling costing the taxman £millions in revenue and prosecution costs and that the name of that organisation is in fact ASH?

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  13. Sheila, you should take up sheep farming. Humans do not tame easily. Wrong species, love. Wrong planet. There is much more to our life than how long it lasts. Butt out.

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  14. What a silly little femme,has the clownette ever
    been in a foundry or similar fume filled joint,
    indeed has she ever had a real job.
    Pontificating little interfering biddy,
    Note!
    Lady ,if you have a car,get rid or shut up,
    collect some heather or save the crofters,
    just do something usefull.

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  15. Your fault ASH. Live and let live and this wouldn't be happening.

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  16. New post
    http://sheilaashscotland.wordpress.com/2010/10/20/firefighting/

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