Rising tobacco prices might, to some extent, have the desired effect of putting people off smoking, but never underestimate the manner in which criminals will fill a vacuum if they see one.

The issue of illegal cigarettes is apparently a big problem in Bradford and West Yorkshire, as evidenced by the owner of a city centre off-licence who has been prosecuted for storing 22,000 illicit cigarettes in the shop.

The very attraction of illegal cigarettes - they can be sold much more cheaply than the legal products - causes many problems. For starters, there is the issue of unpaid tax, and those shopkeepers who do dabble will do so in the expectation of turning a lot more profit.

But perhaps more serious is the fact that if illicit cigarettes are so cheap they can encourage younger people - even children - who might otherwise be put off by the full price to start smoking.

The health problems caused by cigarette and tobacco smoking is a huge source of concern, especially in Bradford, and lead not only to debilitating illnesses but, in many cases, death.

In some cases, tobacco sold in this way may be cheap imports that do not adhere to British safety standards, and may be stronger and more harmful than the brands they are sometimes made to look like.

All in all, while smoking itself is a big issue that is slowly being tackled, the problem of illicit tobacco is one that has the potential to cause much harm, and it is to be welcomed that West Yorkshire Trading Standards are adopting a zero-tolerance policy when dealing with this issue.