Cheshire East Council’s Trading Standards team, in partnership with Cheshire Police, have uncovered a stash of counterfeit goods at a local car boot sale.
Sunday, July 11 saw police and Trading Standards officers swoop on unsuspecting traders at the Cheshire Lounge car boot sale in Little Bollington.
They discovered more than 1,300 counterfeit CDs and DVDs.
Three people were arrested under the Trade Marks Act 1994.
A search of the suspects’ homes, in the Manchester area, later uncovered a further 2,000 counterfeit discs.
Investigations are now under way.
The sale of counterfeit goods carries stiff punishment. Maximum penalties are up to 10 years in prison and unlimited fines.
Cheshire East councillor Rachel Bailey, Cabinet member with responsibility for safer and stronger communities, said: “This is a good result of our Trading Standards team and a credit to their hard-work and successful partnership with Cheshire Police.
“It is unacceptable for a small group of so-called traders to damage the reputation of genuine car boot traders in this manner. Customers must be safe in the knowledge they can attend a car boot sale or any other market stall and buy genuine goods.”
Dustin Hawkes, Cheshire East Council’s lead officer for financial investigations, said: “When money is short it is tempting for individuals to try and make money from the sale of counterfeit goods. They see it as a victimless crime that does no harm and fail to see how this affects local businesses who are also struggling to make ends meet due to the recession.
“A healthy local economy is vital for maintaining the community in which we live and Cheshire East Trading Standards team is committed to protecting this economy from unscrupulous traders trying to make a fast buck.”
“For those selling counterfeit goods Cheshire East Trading Standards is warning you that it is only a matter of time before you have to deal with the repercussions of your actions.”
No comments:
Post a Comment