Fake goods seized at Stow Fair (From Cotswold Journal)

Fake goods seized at Stow Fair

11:49am Wednesday 31st October 2012 in News By Freya Leng

FAKE trainers and accessories were seized from Stow Fair last week.

Gloucestershire County Council’s Trading Standards team, working with the police, seized goods including Nike trainers, Louis Vuitton bags, and Bulgari sunglasses at the event last Thursday.

Officers went along to the fair following concerns about the sale of illegal fake items.

About £3,390 was also seized on suspicion that it was the proceeds of crime.

Trading Standards Animal Health officers were also on hand to ensure that the horses at the fair were in good health and had the required passports.

Eddie Coventry, head of Trading Standards, said: “We had noticed the fair had developed a sizeable market and we were keen to ensure stall holders were complying with the law in the way we would expect of other stall holders at markets in the county.

“The value of the items we have seized is substantial and represents a potential significant loss to traders offering the genuine items for sale.”

Councillor Will Windsor-Clive, Cabinet member for communities, said: “This is another successful operation into an illegal industry that damages reputable businesses in the county.

“Success relies on the information given to us by the public and our partners, so I would encourage people to continue to contact us with their concerns.”

Trading Standards officers also attended Stow Fair in May and seized a quantity of fake goods. The recent operation was a follow-up to the investigation in May.

Anyone with information regarding the supply of counterfeits can make contact via the website tradingstandards.gov.uk/glos or through Citizens Advice Consumer Service on 08454 04 05 06.