NFRN calls for greater enforcement from trading standards
The National Federation of Retail Newsagents has urged trading standards, councils, police and retailers to work together more closely in their efforts to clamp down on the ballooning market in illicit tobacco and alcohol.
It has also called for greater transparency from trading standards regarding its investigations and outcomes following complaints from NFRN members that reports about sales of illicit or counterfeit goods are falling on deaf ears.
Addressing the ‘Raising Standards’ plenary session at the Chartered Trading Standards Institute Conference in Telford, NFRN chief executive Paul Baxter said: “The NFRN feels that more needs to be done to combat the illicit trade market through working in partnership with councils and trading standards. While trading standards and councils often inspect legitimate retailers, the illicit market of non-traditional retail outlets has gone largely ignored; with some cafes, pubs, charity shops and even hairdressers being known to have sold illicit tobacco and alcohol to their customers.”
Baxter also said independent retailers were concerned about rising incidents of frauds and scams and highlighted a recent report which claimed there were only nine successful police or judicial prosecutions out of more than 81,000 reported incidents.
He added: “Members would welcome greater enforcement from trading standards and we want to work together in partnership to crack down on illicit trade. The NFRN is particularly concerned with the level of fraud and scams committed.”
