Illicit cigarettes and tobacco products are a persistent blight on our High Streets.  Sold under the counter, from back rooms, secret storage areas or even out of car boots, these products often evade duty, flout packaging laws and pose serious health risks to consumers. The hunt for illicit tobacco is more than just chasing down cheap cigarettes.  As a Trading Standards Officer, you’ll quickly learn that the fight against illicit tobacco is about protecting communities, s

As Trading Standards Officers, we’re often at the frontline of tobacco enforcement, whether that’s tackling illicit sales, advising retailers, carrying out underage test purchases or supporting Public Health initiatives.  But how we engage with the tobacco industry itself is tightly governed, and in my opinion, not discussed enough.

As Trading Standards Officers, we spend our days protecting others from fraudulent scams, but how often do we stop to consider our own vulnerability?