Counterfeiters Beware
In the lead up to Christmas Warwickshire County Council Trading Standards Service continues its campaign against market traders selling counterfeit goods.
Successful operations include:
* In early November officers swooped on a local weekend market, seizing clothing and jewellery worth £81,000.
* In mid November another market trader was convicted of offences relating to possession of counterfeit goods for sale. As well as being made the subject of a 2 year conditional discharge, the trader was also ordered to pay £300 prosecution costs and forfeited his stock, his van and over £1000 cash found in his possession at the market.
* Early December saw Trading Standards Officers joining forces with the Police, HM Revenue & Customs, Vehicle and operator Services Agency (VoSA) and other partner organisations, carrying out early morning checks on traders and their vehicles on their way to market.
Mark Ryder, Head of Warwickshire Trading Standards, speaking today said; “Traders selling counterfeit goods need to realise that we will not tolerate their activities in the county. We will continue to work at markets and car boot sales in order to protect the public from fake goods.
"A key priority of Warwickshire County Council Trading Standards Service is to support legitimate business and take action against those who trade unlawfully and negligently. “
Warwickshire Trading Standards Service has implemented a range of targeted enforcement activities to tackle the production and sale of counterfeit goods.
Evidence suggests that the sale of counterfeit goods within Warwickshire is widespread, with markets being a prime source for selling such goods. Since 1st April this year Trading Standards Officers have made over 184 market visits and seized over 24,500 illegal items with an estimated genuine retail value of £680,000.
All manner of goods have been seized from razor blades, jewellery and clothing to counterfeit firearms.
As Christmas approaches and the credit crunch hits harder, Warwickshire residents may be tempted to purchase cheap counterfeit products. However, consumers purchasing counterfeit goods are likely to receive goods of an inferior quality that may even be unsafe; they will also have little opportunity for redress if things go wrong.
If you suspect counterfeit or illegal goods are being sold in Warwickshire please telephone Consumer Direct on 08454 04 05 06 and report the details.