FAKES SEIZED IN SOUTH ELMSALL SWOOP

Last week West Yorkshire Trading Standards officers carried out an early morning swoop on South Elmsall Market where counterfeit goods with a street value in excess of £6,000 were seized.

The illegally copied items ranged from over 350 music CDs of popular and recently released titles to fake sports socks. Artistes being copied included Sugarbabes, Will Young, Norah Jones and Mis-teeq. Brands being copied included Calvin Klein, Adidas and Nike.

Martin Wood, West Yorkshire’s Chief Trading Standards Officer, said:

“Counterfeiting is currently high on the public agenda. Some may see it as a victimless crime; it is not. Illegally produced items are usually of inferior quality and not worth the money spent on them.”

Councillor Graham Clarke, Chairman of the West Yorkshire Trading Standards Committee, said:

“Counterfeiting is a serious crime where the penalties imposed can be extremely high. We will not stand for anyone intentionally flouting the law and ripping off West Yorkshire consumers. If anyone is concerned that they may have purchased a counterfeit item or know where they are being sold they should contact our Consumer Helpline on
0113 3848 848.”

For further information please contact:

Paul Smith, Principal Officer Tel: 0113 289 8219
Graham Hebblethwaite, Divisional Manager and Media Contact Tel : 0113 289 8218