Question to the HM Treasury:

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, whether HMRC will provide police forces with access to tobacco track-and-trace data to (i) support enforcement against organised criminal groups and (ii) identify the provenance of stolen tobacco products.

HMRC has a robust strategy to tackle the illicit tobacco trade and works closely with both Trading Standards, Border Force and law enforcement partners to enforce this.

The tobacco track and trace system is an important part of the government’s efforts to tackle illicit tobacco. Under the current legislation, direct access to tobacco track and trace data is restricted to HMRC and Trading Standards to ensure lawful control over its use.

While the Police do not have direct access to track and trace data, HMRC is committed to working closely with all enforcement partners, including the police, to explore appropriate opportunities for wider data sharing.

In practice HMRC has already shared specific traceability data with the Police to support investigations into organised crime and stolen products.

HMRC will continue to explore how track and trace data can be shared more effectively to support enforcement partners, including the Police.