Designer fakes worth £664,000 seized in city

HOOKY: These ‘designer’ bags were among the items on sale

By Simon Bristow, Co-Editor

Fake football shirts and ‘Chanel’ handbags were among more than 100,000 counterfeit goods seized by trading standards officers in Hull last year.

The items, many purporting to be designer brands or jewellery for sale as precious stones or metals, were worth a total of £664,150, Hull City Council said.

The seizures were made in targeted operations from sellers throughout the city.

NO HALLMARK: Fake jewellery

The haul included hundreds of watches, items of jewellery, phone accessories, handbags, clothes and toys. The jewellery may look convincing but lacks a hallmark.

Targeting fakes prevents customers falling prey to items they mistakenly think are genuine, and also protects genuine traders from losing money to unscrupulous sellers, the authority said.

Rachel Stephenson, head of public protection at the council, warned some of the items could pose a health risk.

She said: “Our teams work hard with their partners in the city to identify and target traders selling counterfeit goods. These fakes can look extremely convincing at first, but close examination reveals poor quality and other differences.

SHELF LIFE: Counterfeit goods for sale

“These items haven’t been subject to safety or quality standards or checks, which is a risk for toys in particular. The jewellery could contain harmful chemicals like lead or cadmium, which pose a health risk to unsuspecting buyers. Quite simply, there’s no way to know what you are buying or how and where it has been made.

“The sale of fakes undercuts genuine retailers, damages brand reputation and leads to financial losses across the industry.

“Our priority in targeting counterfeit goods like this is the safety and consumer rights of customers, as well as protecting local businesses”.

Anyone who has bought goods they believe to be fake should contact national organisation Citizens Advice in the first instance. They liaise with local teams on all information they receive. You can call 08081 566 720 with information.