Trading Standards act to protect leading brands

FAKE goods worth more than £1m have been seized at a West Yorkshire market.

And a Kirklees councillor welcomed the tough action by consumer watchdogs.

The goods were seized from a Leeds car boot sale as part of a joint operation by West Yorkshire Trading Standards Service, West Yorkshire Police, Leeds City Council Markets Service and the British Phonographic Industry's Anti-Piracy Unit.

The operation also involved representatives from various trade mark holders, including Adidas, Reebok, Rockport, Henry Lloyd, Stone Island and Lacoste.

During the operation, at the Cross Green Market, large quantities of counterfeit goods including DVDs, CDs, and clothing carrying high fashion brand names were seized in one of the biggest operations of its kind.

As the market opened early on Sunday morning officers swooped on numerous stalls which had been previously identified as selling counterfeit goods.

Several arrests were made as some alleged illegal stall holders attempted to flee the scene.

In total, officers recovered more than seven van loads of goods believed to be counterfeit, the majority being items of clothing which were being sold at between £30 and £180.

Following the arrest of 11 people, house searches were conducted at addresses in Leeds, Oldham and Birmingham.

Further investigations will now take place to determine the origin of the goods before they are eventually destroyed.

Clr Tony Brice, of Kirklees Council, who serves on the Trading Standards Committee, said: "This service is determined to strike hard against counterfeiters and will continue to work closely with the police and industry bodies.

"Often members of the public have no idea about the economic harm caused by the sale of counterfeit goods.

"However it was pleasing to hear that there was a great deal of support from both members of the public and from the many legitimate traders at the market."