We work with our partner agencies to investigate and prosecute people and businesses who sell: 

  • illegal tobacco products 
  • tobacco products to children 
  • tobacco products that do not comply with health and brand labelling laws 

Illegal tobacco products often have: 

  • non-plain packages
  • foreign language health warnings 
  • lower prices compared to genuine tobacco products 

How to report illegal tobacco 

Anyone can report illegal tobacco products. You do not have to give your name.

Our work to stop illegal tobacco in Royal Greenwich 

Since 2018, we have: 

  • Investigated 23 instances of the sale of illegal tobacco products, leading to 5 prosecutions 
  • Seized 104,380 illegal cigarettes, 16.45KG of hand rolling tobacco and 4,524 disposable vapes

Inspections

In 2020, we inspected 15 retailers. During inspections:

  • no retailers failed or sold vapes or alcohol to underage people
  • 1 retailer failed and sold cigarettes to underage people

In 2021, we inspected 5 retailers. During inspections:

  • no retailers failed or sold vapes or cigarettes to underage people
  • 1 retailer failed and sold alcohol to underage people

In 2022, we inspected 54 retailers. During inspections:

  • 3 retailers sold vapes to underage people
  • 2 retailers sold alcohol to underage people
  • no retailers sold cigarettes to underage people

Also in 2022, we prosecuted Mr Kawran Ahmad of Noor Halal Meat, 66 Herbert Road, SE18 3SH. He was sentenced to 100 hours unpaid work as part of a 12 month community order and ordered to pay £3,600 in costs plus a £95 Victim Surcharge.

In 2023, we inspected 12 retailers. During inspections:

  • 2 retailers sold vapes to underage people
  • 2 retailers sold alcohol to underage people
  • no retailers sold cigarettes to underage people

We did the last survey of 2023 in May. We have more inspections scheduled.

News stories 

Find out more about our work to support community safety in Royal Greenwich.