Key facts
- The Co-op states that the illicit cigarette trade is accelerating the decline of UK high streets.
- The retailer has called for increased government funding for police raids on crime networks selling illegal tobacco.
- A survey indicates 36% of British smokers have purchased illicit cigarettes, primarily due to lower prices.
- Illicit cigarettes are reportedly sold in corner and vape shops for as little as £5 per pack.
- The Co-op's white paper advocates for accelerated closure of 'rogue' businesses and police access to HMRC tracking data.
- The Co-op believes the government's £30 million enforcement operation is inadequate to address the scale of the problem.
The Co-op has issued a stark warning that the burgeoning black market for cigarettes is significantly contributing to the decline of Britain's high streets. The retailer argues that this illicit trade not only undermines legitimate businesses but also erodes public safety and community cohesion, directly contradicting government efforts to revitalize town centers. Paul Gerrard, Co-op's director of campaigns, stated that "shadow and illicit economics are shaping the face of high streets up and down the UK, creating an unsafe environment, impacting legitimate business, [and] preventing £1.4bn [from] reaching the public purse."
A survey commissioned by the Co-op revealed that 36% of British smokers have purchased illicit cigarettes, with 62% citing cost as the primary reason. These illegal products are reportedly available for as little as £5 per pack. The Co-op estimates that over 10 billion illicit cigarettes were consumed in the UK last year.
Data obtained by the Co-op through freedom of information requests indicates a low level of enforcement, with local councils visiting an average of only four shops per month to investigate illegal tobacco sales. Professor Emmeline Taylor, a criminologist who authored the Co-op's white paper, highlighted that high street crime distorts local economies, undermines legitimate commerce, and deters investment.
The white paper proposes several measures, including accelerating the closure of "rogue" businesses, granting police access to HMRC's tracking data on cigarette trade, and increasing police visibility in town centers. Gerrard criticized the government's recent £30 million enforcement operation as insufficient to address the problem's scale, emphasizing the need for greater investment to foster thriving high streets and communities.