FAKE-BUSTING Warwickshire Trading Standards Service and Warwickshire Police have both received national recognition for cracking down on the sale of counterfeit goods across the county.
At the 2014 National Anti-Counterfeiting Group Awards, Warwickshire Trading Standards was crowned winner of the ‘Departmental Award’, presented to the UK council service which had achieved most in the fight against counterfeiting.
And Warwickshire Police received a Special Commendation Award for its joint working on anti-counterfeiting operations with trading standards.
The county saw a number of successful raids, including the seizure of £4 million of fake goods, including unsafe and dangerous electrical items, at Wellesbourne Market last December.
Coun Richard Chattaway, Chair of Warwickshire County Council’s Overview and Scrutiny Committee, said: “The sellers of fake goods undermine legitimate businesses, their profits often fund other organised crime and their fake goods can be potentially lethal. Trading Standards will continue to work with enforcement partners and market organisers to protect the public and genuine businesses.”
Warwickshire Police Chief Constable Andy Parker said the fight against the sale of fake goods would continue.
He added: “We work together on behalf of the public to reduce harm in our County and tackling counterfeiting is important for both economic reasons and to protect the public from harm. We will continue to tackle this type of criminality with our partners.”
* BUSINESSES are being warned to beware of bogus advertisers after a spate of complaints.
Bogus advertisers con businesses in to paying for advertising in ‘safety’ or ‘community’ magazines/handbooks that have little or no circulation, making them effectively worthless.
They then demand payments ranging from several hundred pounds to thousands and threaten court action or debt collection agencies if businesses refuse to pay.
Visit www.warwickshire.gov.uk/scams for further help and advice.
Notes to editors:
For further information please contact: Simon Cripwell, Trading Standards Officer on 07771 97 55 70 or 01926 414039
