Counterfeit goods seized in Camden Trading Standards operation
Camden Council’s Trading Standards team, in partnership with the Anti-Counterfeiting Group recently raided a premise suspected of storing counterfeit goods for supply to businesses in Camden.
Located close to Camden High Street, officers seized over 550 counterfeit items, including fake luxury branded bags, wallets, scarves, belts, watches and caps, with an estimated street value of over £10,000.
“The sale of counterfeit goods creates an unfair trading environment, meaning that our many law abiding businesses have to compete with the availability of goods which are cheaper and of inferior quality and that consumers spending their hard earned money are being ripped off.
“Due to the illegal nature of these, production is unregulated, meaning the goods often do not confer to safety standards. Counterfeit electrical goods, medicines, cosmetics, alcohol and tobacco can also be particularly dangerous and in some cases prove fatal.
“In the lead up to Christmas our Trading Standards team will be focusing on other areas of trading compliance, such as product safety and items being illegally sold as ‘faux fur’ when in fact the fur is real animal fur.
“A widespread availability of counterfeit goods can damage the reputation of an area which can in turn deter investment and ultimately have an adverse effect on employment. Our Trading Standards team will continue to take a collaborative and intelligence led approach to tackle this problem.”
This raid is the latest in a series of related activity which has seen over £403,000 worth of counterfeit goods removed from retail and wholesale supply in the previous three months. In total 13 shops were inspected and 3 storage units believed to be supplying counterfeit goods to shops in Camden and other parts of London.
If you think somebody is selling fake or miss described goods, please contact Citizens Advice consumer helpline on tel: 03454 04 05 06.