Criminologist Professor Emmeline Taylor was commissioned by the NBCC to create a report, which outlined the next steps to eliminate illegal tobacco trade.
By Eve Lacroix (Senior Communications Officer), Published
The National Business Crime Centre is calling for Tobacco Track and Trace (TT&T) technology to be made available to policing in order to crack down on the illicit trade in stolen tobacco and its resale on the black market.
The NBCC commissioned City, University of London to research and report on the severity of tobacco theft, how it manifests, its far-reaching consequences and how the utilisation of TT&T technology could prove to be a game changer in tackling organised criminal activity and provide law-abiding businesses with the protection that they deserve. The work was funded by the Home Office.
Professor Emmeline Taylor, expert in criminology at City, University of London, authored the report, which makes several recommendations including awareness training for police about the existence of TT&T and how it can help them in the identification, investigation and prosecution of serious and organised criminals.
She said:
Since 20th May 2019, tobacco manufacturers have been required to provide unique identifier codes on cigarettes and hand-rolling tobacco products. Tobacco products are scanned as they make their way through the supply chain and the data is stored in a UK database. If tobacco is stolen from a shop kiosk for example, and then ends up for sale in another retail outlet, by scanning the tobacco it will show the name of the retail outlet where it was meant to be sold, letting police know that it has been purchased by the retailer illegally.
However, currently the TT&T legislation specifies that only HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) have access to the database (although National Trading Standards can now access the ‘app’ following the enactment of The Finance Act 2022).
The report makes a total of eight recommendations which includes a call for the legislation around the use and access to TT&T to be be revisited so that law enforcement can use it to improve intelligence and investigation into the illegal sale of tobacco products and other associated crimes.
NBCC lead Supt Patrick Holdaway commented:
Click here to view the full report, titled “Lighting Up: How Tobacco Track and Trace Could Help Illuminate Stolen Goods Markets and Other Serious Crimes".