Issued By West Yorkshire Trading Standards Service

COUNTERFEIT SHOWN THE RED CARD

In another series of crackdowns on the sale of counterfeit goods, West Yorkshire Trading Standards Service in conjunction with West Yorkshire Police swooped on street traders operating outside Leeds United’s Elland Road ground before last night’s England International game. The Service received intelligence from trademark holders UMBRO and The Football Association that counterfeiters would be targeting this particular England International.

Officers found stalls and street traders selling counterfeit badges and memorabilia, adult and junior England football shirts, as well as shirts from a number of the country’s top Premiership sides. Hundreds of items were seized, with the estimated street value of the haul being several thousand pounds. The traders involved have all been given formal warnings.

West Yorkshire's Chief Trading Standards Officer, Martin Wood said.

 "The message sent out to traders could not be clearer. We will not tolerate any form of counterfeiting in West Yorkshire and will continue the fight against traders who continue to flout the law. This Service has worked hard to establish initiatives with West Yorkshire Police and Trademark holders and has specifically targeted counterfeiters selling their goods outside football grounds and will continue to do so. Counterfeiting undermines legitimate businesses and in the long run consumers lose out."

For further information contact:

Paul Smith   Senior Enforcement Officer   0113 2898219

Bellow is a picture of the shirts, modeled by (L to R) Louise Wray, Stella Gibbons and Kate Leese of West Yorkshire Trading Standards