Stockton Borough CouncilHousing and Community Safety Select

Committee:Review of Tobacco Control

25th October 2012Catherine Taylor, Fresh

Richard Ferry, North East Trading Standards Association

Each year smoking causes the greatest number of preventable deaths

References:1. ASH Factsheet, Smoking Statistics: illness & death, October 2011 (http://ash.org.uk/files/documents/ASH_107.pdf) NB area represents value

Obesity: 34,100

Smoking: 81,400

Alcohol: 6,541

Suicide:5,377

Drug misuse: 1,738

HIV: 529

Traffic:2,502

Good progress in the North East

The North East comprehensive tobacco control programme

1. Developing infrastructure, skills and capacity2. Reducing exposure to secondhand smoke3. Helping smokers to stop4. Media, communications and education5. Reducing availability and supply6. Reducing tobacco promotion7. Tobacco regulation8. Research, monitoring and evaluation

Recent activity

Overall the latest figures show a decline in the illicit trade – however intelligence shows

Children as young as 8 – 10 are being sold cigarettes

Dealers will sell singles to children on their way to and from school

Traders are becoming more sophisticated and organised, targeting and exploiting communities

- but effective joint action is taking place-

Key regulatory issuesA lethal product: a childhood addiction, not an adult choice

High levels of public support for protecting children from tobacco

Ensuring continued compliance with current legislation e.g.•smokefree legislation•underage sales•vending machines•point of sale displays

Reducing the demand for and the supply of illicit tobacco – the North of England programme

•comprehensive approach•impact

What next? Standardised packagingThe problem The solution

What next?Continued effective enforcement of existing legislationA recognition that the job is not done: need to call for appropriate regulation for a lethal productincluding - tobacco licensing / registrationsmokefree playgrounds / outdoor spaces

For the Select Committee to consider: Is there sufficient capacity to carry out tobacco

control regulatory duties? Are there intelligence protocols in place so that

enforcement agencies can work together effectively? Are there policies in place around sales of illicit

tobacco on council premises/in social housing? Is the council considering making playgrounds

smokefree? Is there a policy in place against working with the

tobacco industry?

For more informationCatherine TaylorFresh0191 333 7142catherine.taylor@freshne.com

Richard FerryNorth East Trading Standards Association07946 549 613ferryrs@hotmail.com

www.freshne.comwww.illicittobacconorth.orgwww.keep-it-out.co.uk