A Proceeds of Crime Act confiscation hearing took place at Isleworth Crown Court last month, where Ian Thomas, 46, of Gorseinon Road, Penllergaer, Swansea, was ordered to pay £31,250.51 for his involvement in the illegal slaughter, manufacture and distribution of ‘smokies’ across England, Wales, Northern Ireland and Scotland.
‘Smokies’ refers to skin-on sheep or goat meat, produced by singeing the fleece off the unskinned carcass, giving it a golden-brown colour and smoky odour. Their production is illegal in the UK, resulting in the process being carried out in unapproved premises which are unlikely to comply with the strict hygiene standards and requirements for meat or food preparation.
This case shows that we’re not just content to prosecute those who commit food crime, we will also pursue them to recover the profits they made from their illegal activities and to recoup taxpayers’ money spent on investigating and prosecuting them.
Food crime can have a serious impact which puts communities at risk, and it also undermines legitimate business and the investment and economic growth that go with it.
We support legitimate businesses, and we are proactively supporting them by disrupting and stopping the criminal element.
If you suspect food fraud, report it to Food Crime Confidential on food.gov.uk/report or by phoning 0800 028 1180 (0207 276 8787 for non-UK mobiles and calls).
