Ealing Council’s trading standards team has won an award for its outstanding work to stop the sale of dodgy goods and counterfeit products in the borough.
The Anti-Counterfeiting Group (ACG) recognised the team’s dedication to protecting the public by ensuring counterfeit goods – which are often dangerous or sub-standard – are not sold in the borough, and for creating a level playing field for local businesses.
Graham Mogg, the Anti-Counterfeiting Group intelligence co-ordinator, presented the award to the team. He said: “The manufacture and sale of counterfeit goods undermines the local and national economy, impacts on legitimate business and jobs and places shoppers at risk.
“Trading standards is the lead agency to tackle this type of crime but the only way to effectively manage that is through a partnership approach with industry. The partnership between ACG and Ealing’s trading standards epitomises this and I’m honoured to present them with an ACG Special Achievement award for their work in taking unsafe counterfeit electrical goods off the streets.’’
Mark Wiltshire, the council’s director for community safety and housing, said: “The work that our trading standards team does to crack down on counterfeiting and fraud has been second to none.
“Not only does it raise awareness among the public to look for confirmation before purchasing goods, but it shows our commitment to target offenders and take robust enforcement action to keep our communities safe.”
The trading standards team works to protect consumers and support legitimate business. This includes enforcing fair trading rules, combating illegal trading, monitoring product safety and ensuring the legal sale of age-restricted products.
It also offers business advice on trading standards legislation, carries out intelligence-led inspections and investigates consumer complaints that may reveal criminal offences under fair trading laws.
Suspected trading standards breaches should be reported to the Citizens Advice Service on 03454 040 506 or by going to www.citizensadvice.co.uk
