Issued By
West Yorkshire Trading
Standards Service
"CHRISTMAS
CRACKDOWN ON COUNTERFEIT GOODS"
West
Yorkshire’s Trading Standards Officers have been busy in the run up to
Christmas. There have been a number
of operations carried out to stop the supply of counterfeit goods in the run up
to Christmas.
In
a joint operation with officers from West Yorkshire Police, Trading Standards
Officers visited a number of stalls at a central Halifax Car Boot Sale on Sunday
25 November. The stalls were all
found to be supplying illegally copied music, software and videos.
The operation was undertaken following complaints from both local
consumers and traders.
In
the course of the operation, illegal copies of music, films and software were
discovered. Some of the latest
titles to hit cinemas were uncovered, including Harry Potter, Cats and Dogs,
Moulin Rouge and A Knight’s Tale. These
films are not yet out on general release. Officers
also discovered traders illegally selling MP3 music discs. All the counterfeit goods were seized by West Yorkshire
Trading Standards Service.
In
a separate operation officers visited Dewsbury Market on Wednesday 28th
November with representatives from Tommy Hilfiger.
Three stalls on the market were found selling counterfeit Tommy Sports
merchandise, which is a registered trademark.
In total, 127 items including adults and children’s
sweatshirts and fleece jackets were seized from the market.
The
value of the goods recovered at the Car Boot Sale is estimated at £50,000.
The value of the goods seized from Dewsbury Market is approximately £9000,
had the goods been genuine.
Martin
Wood, West Yorkshire’s Chief Trading Standards Officer, said:
“This
operation was one of a number planned for the run up to Christmas.
Counterfeiting is not a victimless crime. Counterfeiters take money directly from the legitimate
business community. They deprive
both retailers and the publishers of copyrighted items of legitimate sales.
This can lead to job losses to local people.
The goods that they sell are often poor quality and consumers seldom
receive value for money from counterfeit goods.
I would urge West Yorkshire residents to think twice before buying
illegal copies of music, videos, and software and films this Christmas. Anyone trading in counterfeit merchandise should not
underestimate the severity of this offence, as conviction under the Trade Marks
Act 1994 carries a maximum sentence of 10 years imprisonment.”
Councillor
Graham Clarke Chair of West Yorkshire Joint Services Committee, said;
“I
fully support the work of the officers involved in these operations.
Counterfeit goods are a perennial problem but are particularly prevalent
at this time of year and West Yorkshire Trading Standards is committed to
stemming the flow of such counterfeit and copyright infringing items.”
West
Yorkshire Trading Standards Service plans to conduct further operations in the
run up to Christmas.
For
further information contact:
Paul
Smith, Enforcement Officer Tel: 0113 289 8219
Linda
Davies, Enforcement Officer Tel: 0113 289 8246
Paul
Cooper, Divisional Manager Tel: 0113 289240
Graham
Hebblethwaite, Divisional Manager/ General Media Contact 0113 289 8218