POLICE and Trading Standards officers at Warrington have seized counterfeit footwear with a street value of £32.000.
The fake Ugg boots were seized from an address at Lymm.
Although from a cursory examination, they resembled the genuine, Australian-made produce, they were actually of a much inferior quality.
The seizure was a major success for the authorities – but many other fake products are flooding the market in and around Warrington and many go undetected.
They include DVDs, CDs, games, computer software, clothes, alcohol, watches, perfume, car parts and cosmetics. There has been a big increase in counterfeit toys some of which have been found to be electrically unsafe and potentially lethal. There has also been a steep increase in the availability of counterfeit cigarettes and hand rolling tobacco.
New technology and the increasing production of counterfeit goods in the Far East is being blamed.
Coun Roy Smith, the borough council’s executive member for community services said: “This seizure of counterfeit ‘Ugg’ boots in Lymm is a great example of our partnership work with Cheshire Police and our joint fight against counterfeit goods.
“We are very concerned about the sale of counterfeit products. Not only is the public being duped, but legitimate traders are being adversely affected because they are losing trade to fraudsters.
“We would advise consumers that, while the packaging of counterfeit goods usually looks authentic, the goods themselves are often of poor quality. Sellers are often ‘fly by night’, operating in places such as car parks, pubs and car boot sales. This makes it difficult for consumers to obtain redress when they discover the poor quality of the goods they have bought.
“We ask the public to pass on, in confidence, any information they have about sellers of counterfeit goods. At best, counterfeit goods are poor quality. At their worst they have proved lethal. We intend to carry on combating the sale of counterfeits.”
Anyone can report suspect goods to Trading Standards on 08454 040506.
Picture shows PC PC Debby Marshall and Sergeant Mike O’Carroll and Principal Trading Standards Officer Roger Mapleson with the counterfeit Ugg boots.
