MEMBERS of the public were asked for their help in identifying sellers of illegal tobacco, in a series of roadshows organised by Hampshire County Council.

Taking place throughout this week, the roadshows aim to raise awareness of the dangers of illegal tobacco, particularly for younger people, and show how residents can help support the county council’s Trading Standards team to tackle the problem of illegal tobacco sales in local communities.

Patricia Stallard, Hampshire’s executive member for public health, said: “The sale of illegal tobacco is a serious criminal offence. Far from being a victimless crime, illegal tobacco helps fund organised crime and can make it even more difficult for those trying to give up smoking.

“These criminal activities severely damage the local economy and legitimate traders by gaining a competitive advantage at their expense, and taking trade away from genuine hard-working businesses.

“As it becomes harder for under 18s to buy from legitimate sources, illegal tobacco trading creates a cheap source that fuels smoking by young people - giving them habits that put their health at risk into adulthood.”

The last of the roadshows took place at Basingstoke Top of Town, last Friday.

Three specialist detection dogs, Phoebe, YoYo and Scamp, and their handlers from BWY Canine were the stars at the roadshow, demonstrating their skills in sniffing out hidden tobacco.

They work alongside the county council’s Trading Standards service, going into premises to search for illegal tobacco so it can be removed from sale.

Illegal tobacco products are either cigarettes or hand-rolling tobacco, shisha or bidis, which have been smuggled, bootlegged or are counterfeit.

They make up around 10 per cent of the tobacco market in the UK according to Her Majesty’s Revenues and Customs figures for 2013-14, with 39 per cent of hand-rolled tobacco being illicit.

It is sold by unscrupulous shopowners and by individual dealers at houses and in the streets, in the hearts of local communities.

The sale is a criminal offence. Anyone wishing to report the selling of illegal tobacco can report anonymously www.keep-it-out.co.uk – search for anonymous reporting. You can also call a confidential hotline on 0300 999 6999.