SIR - Thousands of packets of illegal cigarettes were seized at several shops in Bradford in a joint operation between the police and Trading Standards (T&A, December 20).

The report went on to say that "officers will continue to take positive action against the shop owners should they continue to sell these products".

"Should they continue"? All these shopkeepers must surely have known exactly what they were doing, in which case why are the outlets not closed down forthwith, either permanently or at least for a period of, say, six months?

We are being far too lenient in this regard about this long-standing problem.

Bob Watson, Springfield Road, Baildon