South Ayrshire Trading Standards Service this week seized a large quantity of alleged counterfeit and pornographic DVD’s from a man believed to have been offering them for sale around local businesses in Ayr. 

The haul comes on the back of a new Trading Standards initiative designed to crack down on the counterfeiters, whether they sell fake goods on the streets or from the comfort of their own home.

The alleged seller on this occasion, believed to be of Chinese origin, was apprehended following a tip-off from a member of the public about his activities. 

The Trading Standards action followed reports that a man had been targeting businesses and factory units in the Newton area of Ayr selling illegal wares from a rucksack. 

Amongst items seized by Trading Standards officers were a number of DVDs bearing the titles of films that have only just been given general release at the cinema, such as Mission Impossible III, Slither and Tristan & Isolde.  One of the films, United 93, is not even due for UK cinema release until later in the summer. 

Trading Standards have taken the opportunity to re-issue a general warning to the public reinforcing their crack down on counterfeiters pointing out that while members of the public might be tempted to have an early peek at DVDs of films which are being offered to them, the likelihood the films are of such poor quality as to be virtually unwatchable.  Instead, the public should save their money!

A Trading Standards spokesperson said, “If you are offered a DVD or video cassette on the cheap, please don’t be fooled into thinking that you’re getting a bargain.  The films recorded are typically filmed by someone in a cinema, with poor quality sound and vision and obscured views because of the other filmgoers.  Anyone who wants to settle down at night to watch the DVD’s will be sorely disappointed to have discovered they’ve wasted their time and money.  What is also worrying is the large numbers of hardcore pornographic films that have recently been pedalled on the streets of Ayr.  This kind of activity does not involve victimless crimes, and the sellers are typically linked to larger organised crime gangs.”

Commenting on the haul, South Ayrshire Council’s Community Safety Convener, Councillor Hugh Hunter said, “The seizure that has been carried out is particularly pleasing as it follows a new initiative by South Ayrshire Trading Standards to root out counterfeiters who not only sell around local businesses, but also those who think it’s okay to sell fake films, music and software from their homes.  The campaign involves targeted marketing urging members of the public to expose the counterfeit sellers who live amongst them.  These criminals typically don’t work, are often claiming benefits and yet still fund a very good lifestyle from their illegal sales.”

Councillor Hunter added, “South Ayrshire is a thriving retail area and we wish it to remain that way.  Local businesses suffer badly at the hands of the counterfeiters and a number of shops depend on the sale of genuine goods to survive.  There has already been an effect on the South Ayrshire job front, with the closure of some legitimate video shops that had operated in South Ayrshire for a considerable time.  Itinerant sellers of counterfeit films have become a real problem throughout

Scotland.   Through this new campaign by Trading Standards we are urging members of the public to get in touch with information about counterfeit sellers, whether they are operating in the streets of South Ayrshire or even those ‘on-line pirates’ who think they can get away with it because it’s in their own home.”

If you have any information about any persons selling counterfeit goods, films music or software DVD’s, Trading Standards are urging you to get in touch on 01292 606403.

Visit our web site at : http://www.south-ayrshire.gov.uk/tradingstandards

May 2006