Issued By North Yorkshire County Council

SECOND-HAND TRADERS PASS THE TEST

DEALERS in second-hand goods across North Yorkshire have passed an undercover operation mounted by trading standards officers to see if they were prepared to buy 'dodgy' goods.

Officers took relatively high priced electrical items such as TVs and video recorders into second hand shops in order to see if the dealers would purchase the items for any price 'no questions asked'.

Undercover officers visited nine second-hand shops across North Yorkshire and on each occasion the items they were offering for sale were refused when the officer declined to give a name and address.

North Yorkshire has its own legislation in the form of the North Yorkshire County Council Act 1991 which makes it an offence for any dealer in second-hand goods to buy an item without obtaining and recording the name and address of the seller. This legislation was introduced to help combat the distribution of stolen property. In this small sample it appears to be working.

Councillor John Dennis, the county council's executive member with responsibility for trading standards said: “It is very pleasing to see that the second-hand trade is acting responsibly. Thieves rely on outlets to turn goods into cash. I would urge second-hand dealers to remain vigilant and to pass on any suspicions to the police. While these results are very good there is no room for complacency and the trading standards service will be repeating this exercise."

15-4-'03

Contact: Richard Flinton on 01609-766410

Executive member: Councillor John Dennis (Con) 01609-883349

Group spokespeople: Councillor Mrs Caroline Seymour (Lib-Dem) 01642-710382, Councillor Steve Shaw-Wright (Lab) 01757-708849