The government is hopeful of introducing new regulations by the end of this year to combat the booming illegal tobacco trade. These plans include strengthening local authorities' powers to close illegal mini-marts and vape shops for up to a year, an increase from the current three-month maximum.
This comes as Trading Standards Officers have confirmed that some illicit tobacco samples sent for testing have contained traces of rat poison. The government has also announced £30m in funding to boost enforcement efforts against rogue traders.
Staffordshire's Trading Standards department has reported a "striking increase" in criminal activity linked to premises such as vape shops, mini-marts, and convenience stores. Stoke-on-Trent City Council has closed 15 "rogue shops" in the past two years, while Newcastle-under-Lyme Borough Council has closed five in the last six months.
Tony Shore, Trading Standards manager for Staffordshire County Council, noted that current powers are limited, with a maximum shop closure period of three months. He suggested that more powers could be needed to prevent these sales, a sentiment echoed by local businesses frustrated by the prevalence of rogue shops.