We must do more to protect high streets from illicit tobacco and vapes
4 min read
In Burnley, honest shopkeepers are being asked to compete with traders who simply ignore the law.
Illicit tobacco and illegal vapes are sold cheaply, undercutting legitimate businesses that pay their taxes, follow the rules, and work hard to serve their communities.
That is not a victimless transaction. It takes money from public services, puts products of uncertain quality into customers’ hands, and can give wider criminal activity a foothold in our communities. For independent retailers who open early, close late and depend on every sale to keep the lights on, the impact is immediate. And it is deeply unfair.
Burnley’s shopkeepers know their customers by name. They support local causes, employ local people and help hold our high streets together. Many have built their businesses over decades, through hard work, long hours and personal sacrifice. Operators who make money by ignoring the rules should not undermine their livelihoods.
Why should a business that follows the law be expected to compete with one that does not?
That question goes to the heart of the issue. Our high streets are already under pressure from changing shopping habits and fewer people coming into town centres. The last thing legitimate retailers need is to compete with businesses able to offer cheaper products because they evade tax, ignore regulations and rely on illegal supply chains.
The government has recognised the scale of the problem and is taking action to tackle illicit tobacco and illegal vapes.
That includes funding for Trading Standards, closer cooperation between enforcement agencies and measures to disrupt the criminal networks behind these sales. It is also supporting legitimate businesses through wider efforts to revitalise high streets and ease the pressures facing small retailers.
That action is welcome. However, it must be sustained and strengthened where necessary.
Tackling illicit trade has to remain a priority. Trading Standards officers do vital work identifying illegal products and protecting consumers, often under significant pressure. They need the resources and support to act effectively. Their efforts must also be backed by closer cooperation between local authorities, the police, HMRC, Border Force and other agencies.
Enforcement cannot stop at seizing stock or closing a premises. We need to disrupt the networks behind these operations, follow the money and ensure repeat offenders face consequences strong enough to deter them. If illegal traders can replace their stock and carry on as before, then we are not tackling the problem at its source.
This is about protecting consumers, too. Illegal vapes may not meet the safety and quality standards required by law. Illicit tobacco is sold without the safeguards or taxation that apply to legitimate products. Customers deserve confidence that what they buy is safe and legal. Communities deserve protection from criminal networks that exploit local high streets.
None of this is about treating independent retailers with suspicion or making life harder for small businesses. It is about creating a fair environment in which honest businesses can compete. Shopkeepers are often the first to notice suspicious activity, and their concerns must be taken seriously. They should have clear ways to report illicit sales, and confidence that those reports will lead to action.
Our high streets are more than rows of shops. They are places where people work, meet and spend their money. They are part of what makes Burnley feel like home. Independent retailers provide jobs, support local suppliers and invest in their communities, often while taking significant financial risks themselves.
If we want our town centres to thrive, we need to stand up for the people who keep them going. That means supporting small businesses, backing enforcement efforts, strengthening action where needed and making clear that those who profit from illegal trade will face consequences.
Honest shopkeepers should not be put at a disadvantage because others believe the rules do not apply to them. Burnley’s retailers, like shopkeepers right across the nation, deserve a fair chance to succeed.
I want to see MPs from all parties come together to support them the best we can.
Oliver Ryan is the Labour MP for Burnley
