UK: Readers Urged to Sign Illicit Tobacco Petition

Source from:  Lancashire Evening Post (uk)  01/15/2013

THE Evening Post today calls on readers to support its campaign against the illicit tobacco trade, which is fuelling crime in Lancashire's communities, by signing a Government petition.

The government has approved the launch of an online petition calling for tougher penalties for the criminals behind the illicit trade.

The Evening Post needs 10,000 signatures to ensure the matter is brought to the attention of Parliament.

The petiton says: "We the undersigned call upon the Government to toughen up the penalties available to the relevant authorities for prosecuting criminals involved in the illegal tobacco trade, to recognise the grave threat it poses to our communities in terms of crime and undermining health agencies' efforts to get smokers to quit, and to ask the Government to pledge to tackle the discrepancies between the punishments for comparatively similar drugs cases and bring the penalties for illicit tobacco offences in line with drugs offences.

We ask the Government to recognise that the profits made by criminals in tobacco smuggling/selling cases are often much more than those made from drugs, with less serious consequences for the criminal. This needs to change."

Peter Osborne, of the Tobacco Manufacturer's Association, said: "It is really important that readers sign the e-petition so that the Government understands the real strength of feeling about what is not a victimless crime.

"We are all paying the price of illegal tobacco, whether it's legitimate businesses that lose out, the loss of tax revenues which could pay for much needed public services, or the associated criminality brought into communities.

"The LEP is to be congratulated for an excellent campaign highlighting the scale and impact of illegal tobacco on businesses and communities."

Suleman Khonat, Lancashire newsagent and North West Spokesman of the Tobacco Retailers' Alliance, added: "It would be great if as many shopkeepers as possible across the North West could sign this petition. It's really easy to do, and it would help bring to the government's attention how badly tobacco smuggling affects independent retailers, and how more needs to be done to protect our livelihoods and the important role we play in communities."

Jeremy Blackburn, of Japan Tobacco International, said: "The impact of the illicit trade in tobacco on society is far reaching and members of the public, retailers, suppliers and the Government all have a role to play to combat the issue. I congratulate the Evening Post for their campaign to eradicate this scourge from the community." Enditem