Trading Standards officers in Staffordshire have vowed to get tough on counterfeiters and those who sell fake and illegal products.
The warning comes ahead of the upcoming Bank Holiday and the car boot sales season which kicks off this weekend.
Fakes are poor-quality imitations and officers often see a surge in their sales at car boot sales and local markets. Popular items include designer clothes and accessories, cosmetics and electrical goods. Officers are also expecting a surge in fake football shirts in the run up to the World Cup in the summer.
Counterfeit and illegal goods can be extremely harmful to people’s health and in some cases can present a significant fire hazard. Legitimate traders also suffer because of counterfeit sales, which also harms local economies.
Profits from the trade also fund organised crime, giving criminal gangs the means to engage in other illegal activities that risk lives and harm communities.
Anthony Screen, Cabinet Member for Community Safety and Resilience at Staffordshire County Council, said:
We won’t tolerate anyone putting people’s lives at risk with cheap and dangerous fake goods.
We should all take extra care when shopping for items, especially at car boot sales and markets.
You can find real bargains, but there are also fakes that can be unsafe.
Counterfeit products are not harmless. Fake toys can be dangerous for children. Fake make up, clothing, or electrical goods can also put your family’s health and safety at risk. Cheap electrical items, especially those with batteries, can cause fires. And the trade in fake goods often funds organised criminal gangs.
You can be assured that we will take tough action against anyone caught selling illegal or counterfeit goods in our county.”
Through the proceeds of criminal law, the service is now able to seize assets and money from those successfully prosecuted. This can then be reinvested in future operations that protect local communities.
