The owner of Bargain Point convenience store on London Road North, Lowestoft, has pleaded guilty to possessing illegal tobacco.
Zafar Khan Niazi was fined a total of £2,010 (£800 per offence, £250 in prosecution costs and a £160 victim surcharge).
Following intelligence received that the shop was selling illegal tobacco, a raid was carried out by Suffolk Trading Standards in October 2019. 4220 illegal cigarettes and over 2.5kg of illegal hand rolling tobacco were seized.
A further search was carried out by Suffolk Police in April 2020. Having identified a suspicious vehicle in the area, Suffolk Police stopped the vehicle. The occupants ran into the rear of Bargain Point. When in the premise the police identified a further 3940 illegal cigarettes and approximately 6.5kg of illegal hand rolling tobacco in and around the till area of the shop. This was seized and handed over to Suffolk Trading Standards to investigate.
All tobacco is harmful, but illegal tobacco is likely to have an unknown composition, is unlikely to meet UK safety standards, will be duty non-paid, and could be counterfeit.
Illegal tobacco makes it easier for children to take up smoking and get hooked, could increase the risk of house fire as the burn out propensity is reduced (official products will put themselves out when not actively smoked, reducing the risk of fire) and is affecting legitimate, honest, hardworking Suffolk businesses.
There are three types of illegal tobacco:
smuggled, non-duty paid or bootlegged tobacco, which often includes packets with foreign language health warnings and no health warning pictures – they often cost between £5 – £7 for a pack of 20
counterfeit or fake tobacco, which looks like well-known tobacco brands but is manufactured illegally – these can be produced in the UK but more often are smuggled into the country and can cost from £5 per packet
‘cheap whites’, which are foreign brands lawfully produced in one country but intended for smuggling into another – they are illegally sold in the UK and the most well known brand is Jin Lin, which can be as little as £3.50 per packet
It’s also illegal to sell single cigarettes.
The tell-tale signs of illegal tobacco include:
packets with no picture health warnings
packets with foreign language health warnings
stock kept out of sight in shops and away from the regular tobacco display cabinet
its low cost compared to normal cigarettes – for example, a pack of 20 illegal cigarettes can cost as little as £3.50 – £5
unusual or foreign brand names
availability in unusual locations, such as pubs, market stalls, ice cream or fast food vans, outside shops, private homes, and high footfall areas.
selling single cigarettes, often to children
You can report the sale of illegal tobacco to us via Citizens Advice Consumer Service on 0808 223 1133.
If you live in Suffolk, you can get help to stop smoking from One Life Suffolk. Their practitioners offer a 12-week support programme which includes Carbon Monoxide monitoring, access to treatments (Champix, Zyban, Nicotine Replacement Therapy, product dependent) and a direct supply of Nicotine Replacement Therapy: https://onelifesuffolk.co.uk/services/stop-smoking/
As predicted, with the easing of restrictions and the nicer weather, we are seeing a rise in the reports of doorstep callers.
We’ve had reports that Nottingham Knockers were calling at properties in Stowmarket.
One of the rogues called at a property in Temple Road (a No Cold Calling Zone). The resident refused to engage with the man. He then became aggressive, hit the doorframe of the property and then slammed the gate forcefully.
There were reports of individuals going door to door in Stowmarket and Newmarket, offering to carry out "Free" checks on the loft insulation of the property.
Two men in a white van were seen going door to door in Woolpit offering plants, trees and garden furniture. These individuals often visit Suffolk and use the same sales patter - “last one”, “great price” "ex-exhibition stock" etc, They currently state they have stock because they have not been able to sell them at the usual Garden Shows.
Lastly, traders driving a white transit style van were going door to door in Tattingstone offering to clean driveways.
Any trader that puts you under pressure by suggesting you have to make a decision there and then, or that the "special price" is only available for a limited period in order to make you sign up, may be committing a criminal offence.
Doorstep traders are trained in sales techniques and can be very persuasive.
Be very wary of signing anything as you may give up your rights to cancel.
Our advice is to always say "No thank you - please leave" and then immediately close the door. If the trader won't go away, tell them that you will call Suffolk Trading Standards. If you feel under real threat or in danger, you should contact Suffolk Police.
If approached report to us via 0808 223 1133. When reporting doorstep incidents, please try to supply key information such as the description of the individual and their vehicle, including the make, model and vehicle registration if seen.
From 3rd July 2021 no drinks product can be supplied with a single use plastic straw attached to the packaging.
The ban on supplying plastic straws and stirrers and plastic-stemmed cotton buds has been in force since 1st October 2020, with exemptions for those products purchased by retailers before that date, until 1st April 2021.
The Environmental Protection (Plastic Straws, Cotton Buds and Stirrers) (England) Regulations 2020 have been introduced to reduce plastic pollution in the oceans. It is estimated we use 4.7 billion plastic straws, 316 million plastic stirrers and 1.8 billion plastic-stemmed cotton buds in England every year, many of which find their way into our ocean. By banning the supply of these items, the Government aims to further protect our marine wildlife and ultimately eliminate all avoidable plastic waste.
You can report the supply of single use plastic straws, cotton bud stems and drink stirrers to us via 0808 223 1133.
A quick reminder on ‘spoofing’.
Criminals imitate trusted organisations to trick you with text messages. Whether it’s your bank, a delivery company, phone network provider or someone purporting to work for the government, it’s important to treat all messages with caution.
Take Five and please don’t click on links.
LITTLE GUIDE TO FREE WI-FI
Natural Instinct Ltd is recalling several dog food products containing duck because salmonella has been found in the products.
These products have been sold online and by independent pet stores.
Working Dog Duck
Pack size: 1kg and 2x500g
Use by: 08 January 2022, 15 January 2022, 22 January 2022, 13 February 2022, 20 February 2022, 11 March 2022, 18 March 2022
Pure Duck
Pack size: 1kg and 2x500g
Use by: 08 January 2022, 15 January 2022, 22 January 2022, 13 February 2022, 20 February 2022, 11 March 2022, 18 March 2022
Working Dog Puppy
Pack size: 1kg and 2x500g
Use by: 15 January 2022, 22 January 2022, 13 February 2022, 20 February 2022, 11 March 2022
Duck Carcass
Pack size: Pack of 2
Use by: 08 January 2022, 15 January 2022, 20 February 2022
Duck Necks
Pack size: Pack of 6
Use by: 15 January 2022, 22 January 2022
In humans, symptoms caused by salmonella usually include fever, diarrhoea and abdominal cramps. Infected animals may not necessarily display signs of illness, but symptoms can include diarrhoea.
If you have bought any of the above products do not use them. Instead, return them to the store from where they were bought for a full refund. When handling and serving raw pet food it is always advised to clean utensils and feeding bowls thoroughly after use. Consumers should wash hands thoroughly after handling raw pet food, bowls, utensils or after contact with the faeces of animals. Raw pet food should be stored separately from any food (especially ready to eat foods). Care should be taken when defrosting to avoid cross contamination of foods and surfaces.
PND Group are recalling Hansan antibacterial hand sanitisers containing propan-2-ol alcohol as the active ingredient. It has been identified as not containing sufficient concentrations of the active ingredient to sanitise.
Additionally, the presence of alcohol is not accompanied by the appropriate hazard pictograms and warnings.
The product therefore does not meet the requirements of the Biocidal Products and Chemicals (Appointment of Authorities and Enforcement) Regulations 2013 or the European Regulation (EC) No 1272/2008 on classification, labelling and packaging of substances and mixtures as amended and retained in GB.
This recall applies to the following product.
Barcode number: 5060371293413
Best-before-end date: 08/2022
Please stop use immediately and dispose of the products. PND Group can be contacted at info@pndgroup.co.uk for a full refund.
