Stop the Counterfeiters operating in Your Workplace.....

Last year Trading Standards ran a concerted campaign to eliminate the sale counterfeit goods within the South Ayrshire area. This resulted in thousands of pounds worth of counterfeit goods being seized and several prosecutions including fines and a jail term. Among the sentences issued by the court, were:

• A man from Easterhouse was fined a total of £800.
  
  
• A Paisley man was fined £500 and given 3 months prison sentence.
  
  
• A South Ayrshire woman was fined a total of £1,000.
  
  
• A South Ayrshire man was fined a total of £2,000.

We also seized the fake goods and equipment used in the manufacture of these counterfeits. We have the power to enter all business premises and seize goods and equipment. We also have the power to obtain warrants from the court to enter any premises including private houses suspected of manufacturing counterfeit goods.

These measures forced counterfeiters to move their sales to other areas such as local work places and factories. So, every manager or supervisor can eliminate the likelihood of counterfeit goods being sold in their work place by adopting the following basic steps:

• Make sure that all staff are aware of this initiative, the poster on display and the negative publicity that the company would attract if such goods were being sold in the workplace.

• Inform staff that buying counterfeit goods is helping other more serious, criminal activities and, for those selling fakes, the consequences when caught (fine, jail sentence and possible loss of employment).
  
  
• Advise staff that if they are offered counterfeit goods to refuse and to refer the information (anonymously if they wish) to Trading Standards on 01292 616060.

The people that operate within workplaces are easy to spot and we would encourage you to be aware of the following list of telltale signs of how to identify possible sales of counterfeit goods:

• Lists of music CD's or Playstation games with a corresponding price being circulated around the workplace by specific people.
  
  
• Sums of money changing hands and payments made to specific people on a regular basis.
  
  
• People bringing in bags of goods and distributing them to different people (CD's, Alcohol, Cigarettes, Clothes, perfume and watches) are examples.
  
  
• Shift work with someone constantly attending the workplace when not actually working, coming in early or waiting late to meet other shifts.

If you think you know of anyone who may be selling counterfeit goods where you work we can be contacted on 01292 616020. An Officer will then be able to advise you on the best course of action.