Tackling Illegal Tobacco Action Plan

2 Why tackle illegal tobacco? Health – undermines other tobacco control measures (e.g. health warnings; keeping away from children) price; Crime – encourages crime at community, regional, national and international levels. Seen as high profit and low risk Economic impact – despite good progress national revenue hit (lost tax) c£2bn, plus harms legitimate local businesses

3 TRADING STANDARDS Responsible for enforcing consumer related legislation HEALTH PARTNERS Responsible for improving people ’ s health and wellbeing HMRC Responsible for ensuring the correct taxes and benefits are paid at the right time Underage sales Affordability (taxation) Counterfeit tobacco products ILLICIT TOBACCO Different roles – common goal

South of England Tackling Tobacco for Better Health Action Plan Four objectives 1. Building Partnerships & Engagement Expand our network of partners 2. Improving Enforcement Collaborative working is essential 3. Marketing and Communications Public perception of illegal tobacco Victimless crime 4. Assessing Progress 2010 research as a baseline

5 Demand side campaign

7 Partnership working

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South of England Tackling Tobacco for Better Health Action Plan Face to face event results  Spoke to over 6600 people  Received 3781 pledges  Handed out 4,490 leaflets  Over 3100 people gave their details for us to contact their councillor  Over 100 pieces of intelligence gathered  PR coverage worth £709,699

South of England Tackling Tobacco for Better Health Action Plan Regional NEMS Results 2013  Number of smokers buying illegal tobacco fallen by more than a fifth (20%) in just three years, from 20% of smokers in 2010, to 16% today.  Illegal tobacco share of the market plummeted by over a third (36.4%), from 11% in 2010 to 7%

South of England Tackling Tobacco for Better Health Action Plan Regional NEMS Results 2013  19% had seen heard or read something about illicit tobacco  Proportion of all adults classified as ‘very uncomfortable’ with illegal tobacco has increased significantly, up from around 1 in 3 (31%) people in 2010 to almost one in two (49%)

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