The Middlesbrough Council Trading Standards team has seized more than 700 counterfeit shoes, trainers and items of clothing manufactured to imitate designer brands including Gucci, Chanel, Vivienne Westwood and Louis Vuitton.
Mayor Chris Cooke and Middlesbrough Council’s Principal Public Protection Officer, Sinead Upton, with some of the seized goods (image credit: Middlesbrough Council)
The fake goods – which would have been worth an estimated £270,000 if they were genuine – were seized from a retailer in the town on 20 August and in a follow-up visit on 21 August.
While Officers removed the haul, they were also alerted to an unconnected street seller offering counterfeit perfumes to passers-by outside the shop – his stock was also seized.
Judith Hedgley, Middlesbrough Council’s Head of Public Protection said: “There was no hiding the fact that the branded clothing and other items being offered for sale at such low prices could not be genuine, resulting in the seizure of a large amount of stock from the retailer and all of the items being carried by the street vendor.
“Counterfeit goods are sold to make profit for criminal organisations, damage genuine trade and often put consumers at risk.”
Middlesbrough Mayor Chris Cooke said: “Counterfeit goods have no place in Middlesbrough – our legitimate and lawful town centre businesses should not have to compete on an uneven playing field.
“Counterfeit products can be shoddily made and dangerous, and their sale ultimately funds organised criminality. This is not a victimless crime.
“This seizure is another example of the fantastic work that Middlesbrough Council’s Trading Standards team does on a daily basis, and I want to congratulate them on sending out another strong message.”
