WIREDGOV

Highly-trained sniffer dogs used to detect and tackle the illegal trade of tobacco will be on patrol more frequently across Wales thanks to a funding boost by the Welsh Government. 

Health Minister Mark Drakeford today announced that just over £7,000 will be made available to local councils to support 22 days of tobacco detection dog work throughout Wales.

Illegal tobacco remains a threat to the health of the people of Wales. It is sold at much lower prices than standard, taxed tobacco and is more attractive to people on limited budgets, particularly children.

Evidence on the prevalence of the illegal trade in tobacco suggests that it is likely to be concentrated in our most deprived communities, where smoking levels are highest.

Provision of funding for detection dog work, which will be organised by the Wales Heads of Trading Standards, will support and enhance current work related to illegal tobacco in Wales.

Health Minister, Mark Drakeford said:

“The trade in illegal tobacco is undermining our efforts to control tobacco use and to help people give up smoking.

“In August, I visited Newport to see first hand how a sniffer dog called Phoebe played a vital role in sniffing out half a million pounds’ worth of illegal tobacco, which she found in ingeniously hidden places. These detection dogs play a key role in finding illegal tobacco.

“I’m pleased to be able to announce the Welsh Government is making additional funding available to boost the work of the detection dogs, allowing trading standards teams across Wales to continue the fight against illegal tobacco.”

Smoking continues to be the largest single preventable cause of ill health and death in Wales, causing around 5,450 deaths each year; treating smoking-related diseases costs the Welsh NHS an estimated £302m per year.

The Welsh Government’s Tobacco Control Action Plan for Wales, sets out a target of reducing smoking prevalence levels to 16% by 2020.

The Minister added:

“Smoking continues to be the greatest single causes of avoidable mortality in Wales accounting for nearly one in five of all deaths in people aged 35 and over.

“We are determined to help support people to give up smoking and provide services, such as the Stop Smoking Wales service, which are proving successful in helping thousands of people every year.”

Matthew Cridland, chair of Wales Heads of Trading Standards, said:

“Trading Standards services across Wales are responsible for the enforcement of a range of tobacco control measures designed to ensure under-18s are not able to purchase cigarettes and that tobacco products are genuine, properly labelled and displayed.

“Unfortunately, our hard work to improve compliance in these areas is being undermined by the supply of illegal tobacco for as little as half the price of the legitimate product.

“The cheapness of illegal tobacco removes the price incentive for smokers to quit the habit and puts our children at risk, particularly if they are entering private addresses to purchase.

“We are delighted the Health Minister has made this additional funding available - it will allow us to use the skills of tobacco detection dogs across Wales. This high-profile work will further raise public understanding of the harms of illegal tobacco and complement existing awareness raising campaigns undertaken in Wrexham and currently being developed for the Swansea Bay area