  |
 
Recent Press releases
Trading Standards Show That Size Does Matter!!Brent and Harrow Trading Standards Service have found that a staggering 25% of retailers sold alcohol to a 14 year old child in a series of undercover operations to test the effectiveness of various ‘Challenge 21’ and ‘Think 21’ schemes that are currently being used by a large number of businesses. These schemes operate by training sales staff to adhere to a policy of challenging anyone who is attempting to buy age restricted goods if they appear to be under 21 years of age. Then, if the buyer is able to prove they are over 18, being the age at which they are legally able to purchase the majority of restricted goods, the sale is allowed to proceed. The benefit of schemes such as these is that it provides a reasonable margin of error for staff to challenge buyers as it can often be difficult to decide whether a person, standing at the till with a bottle of alcohol, is actually under 18 years of age. A total of 26 retailers, mainly national supermarket chains, were targeted for the operation across both the boroughs of Brent and Harrow. The Trading Standards Service were able to establish that the ‘Challenge 21’ policy was in use as there were a variety of stickers on display and badges worn by staff indicating this. In all the cases where the sales took place, the boy was not challenged despite being only 14 years of age. The Trading Standards Service normally use children who, by their appearance, are obviously too young to purchase the products they are attempting to buy. However, during this operation, the Service had the opportunity to work with a 14 year old boy, who was bigger than an average male of his age, but surprisingly not the biggest in his class. By using a such child, the Trading Standards Service sought to provide retailers with a much stiffer test of their ‘Challenge 21’ and ‘Think 21’ policies, to determine whether their systems were robust enough to prevent a child who did not fit the traditional profile from buying alcohol. Trading Standards wanted to highlight that children vary enormously in shape and size and that appearance alone should not be the only determining factor in deciding whether restricted goods are sold. Officers were attempting to determine whether sales staff actually looked at the child attempting to buy and make a considered decision, before continuing with the sale. The instances where the shop staff did not take a few extra seconds to evaluate what and to whom they were about to sell, resulted in sales of alcohol to the underage child. In the cases where sales were made, none of the shop staff asked for proof of age. All the retailers tested had electronic till systems which produce till prompts when age restricted products are scanned and require the sales assistant to take positive action by overriding the till message before proceeding with the sale. Bill Bilon, Director of Trading Standards for the London Boroughs of Brent and Harrow said, “The sale of alcohol and knives to minors is extremely disturbing especially in light of the recent spate of teenage stabbing and deaths in London in the last month alone. This exercise illustrates the importance of giving the sale of age restricted goods such as alcohol, knives, lottery tickets, cigarettes and fireworks, the full attention they deserve. “To help combat age restricted sales, my officers have developed a ‘Responsible Trader Scheme’ which includes a training pack aimed at helping retailers comply with this type of legislation. We currently have nearly 200 retailers who are members of our scheme and are looking to stamp out the sales of age restricted goods to minors in the Boroughs of Brent and Harrow. All members have received an information pack which gives them invaluable tools and training aids which can help their business. The more retailers who take up this free membership, the better the chances we have of achieving our objectives and making Brent and Harrow a safer and better place to live and work. Businesses who would like information on how to join this free scheme should call the Trading Standards Service on 0208 937 5555 (option 2)”. NOTES TO EDITORS Trading Standards take action to tackle supply of fake goodsBrent and Harrow Trading Standards Service have just completed a series of targeted visits to local newsagents within the two boroughs which has uncovered a wide range of counterfeit products that are being sold to unsuspecting members of these public. These fake goods include everyday household products such as batteries, cigarette lighters, condoms, razor blades and printer ink cartridges Trading Standards Officers are investigating 43 local businesses that were found to be selling fake goods from their premises. Worryingly, the haul of counterfeit goods included:- 482 packets of Duracell batteries, 397 packets of Durex condoms, 157 Clipper lighters and 57 Gillette razors. These goods were seized by Trading Standards Officers from newsagents following a rise in the number of businesses stocking up on cheap imitations of well known brands. Bill Bilon, Director of Brent and Harrow Trading Standards, said “Our investigations shows that there is a huge proliferation in the sale of counterfeit goods in this area by traders who, in some cases, may not even know that they are dealing in infringing articles. Retailers are sourcing these fake products from door to door salesman, or other unscrupulous outlets at cheaper prices then they would normally pay if the goods were genuine and supplied by their usual wholesalers. However, in most cases the public still end up paying the normal price for these counterfeit goods that are invariably inferior in quality and, in some instances, unsafe. I urge both the public and local businesses to be extra vigilant as these investigations shows that counterfeiting is no longer limited to designer goods and DVDs but is more widespread and includes everyday household goods that no one would suspect of being fake”. If members of the public find that they have bought counterfeit goods, they are advised to report the matter to Brent and Harrow Trading Standards on 020 8937 5555 who would like to hear of any instances where such goods have been sold within the two Boroughs. On-line Profits -v- Child SafetyA recent survey by Brent and Harrow Trading Standards Service revealed that an alarming seventy five percent of on-line retailers supplied age restricted goods such as knives, alcohol, spray paints and, in one case, even a machete to a child of thirteen years of age. Parents are strongly advised to be aware that children can now have access to these goods and that the internet is opening up the entire trading community to them. This project was carried out over a two week period in order to determine exactly how easily children were able to buy goods on-line whereas they would otherwise be challenged in an ordinary shop by staff. The child was instructed to use a new type of debit card which can be issued, for a small fee, to children as young as 10 years old. For the purposes of the Trading Standards exercise, the child was supervised in obtaining the card, which could then be activated on line. The card could be ‘topped up’ by using pay point facilities at local Post Offices or numerous retail outlets with the correct facilities. Under strict guidance and supervision, the child was asked to visit retail on line sites selling products such as alcohol, knives, spray paint, and fireworks. The exercise revealed that out of the twelve websites visited, nine agreed to and, in fact, did supply the age restricted products which the child had ordered. A cross section of the industry was targeted ranging from well known high street brands to local and specialist websites. Officers were surprised at the ease with which children were able to gain access to the products despite the fact that they were using filtering software to control the type of sites which they could view. Officers were shocked at the range of products that were readily available to the child and compared this to an ordinary situation of a child who may not be supervised and could visit websites from the comfort of their own home and use computers and internet service providers which may not have any filtering software installed. As a result of the deliveries received so far at secret locations in both the Boroughs of Brent and Harrow, the operation will now continue into the coming year with a view to extending it and the businesses that have supplied the age restricted goods already are under investigation. Bill Bilon, Director of Trading Standards said, ‘I am shocked and concerned at the types of products a thirteen year old child was able to successfully obtain through on line purchases. The products that have been supplied so far have come from businesses who have not asked questions about the person age, albeit some had mentioned that the person had to be over 18 in their terms and conditions, others did nothing at all. Of those that did ask for age confirmation, this was facilitated by a tick box. If a child was minded to purchase knives, alcohol or other restricted goods, there is a strong possibility that they may just the tick the box to confirm that they are over eighteen in order to successfully obtain any product on line. Whilst I appreciate that businesses need to flourish, they also have a responsibility towards our young citizens. In my view to ask nothing is unacceptable and the extent of the problem will now be investigated in full by my officers.’ Notes for editors Be aware of a ‘fake’ Christmas!With Christmas fast approaching it is easy to be attracted by cheap prices at this expensive time of year, and by goods being sold by street traders and some market stall holders. However, Brent and Harrow Trading Standards Service are warning the public to be vigilant and not to be duped into buying counterfeit goods as presents for their loved ones. Officers from Brent and Harrow Trading Standards Service are concerned about the growing number of counterfeit goods that are being sold in the local area and have stepped up their enforcement activities with extra patrols at venues such as Wembley Market. Counterfeit goods may look appealing as cheap Christmas presents but their quality is often inferior and sometimes dangerous. Over the last few months Trading Standards Officers have identified hundreds of stalls at Wembley Market selling counterfeit clothing, trainer, CDs and DVDs. Working with the local police and the market organiser, stall holders have been warned about their illegal activities. As part of this ongoing clampdown, and with the co-operation of the market operator, some of the traders selling counterfeit goods have been removed from the market. Recent examples of counterfeit and fake goods seized by Brent and Harrow Trading Standards Service include Duracell batteries, footwear, handbags, perfumes, Clipper lighters, Gillette razor blades, Kodak camera film, Durex condoms, DVDs and CDs featuring Hollywood and Bollywood titles. Bill Bilon, Director of Brent and Harrow Trading Standards Service said: "At this time of year, counterfeit goods may look like a bargain, but always remember the quality of these goods is likely to be poor. They may not be safe and you may be funding organised crime by buying from unscrupulous traders who are out to make a quick sale and won’t be about in weeks to come if for any reason you have to return your purchases." Councillor Paul Lorber, Leader of Brent Council said: “I am pleased with the action taken by our Trading Standards Officers to combat the sale of counterfeit goods. Brent Council will not tolerate the sale of fake goods in this area as it harms the reputation of brand owners, takes business away from the local traders who are trying to make an honest living and funds organised criminal activities such as people trafficking”. Brent and Harrow Trading Standards Service are requesting the public and local businesses to report any suspicious trading to them on 020 8937 5555 or by email at trading.standards@ brent.gov.uk Brent and Harrow Trading Standards also offer the following advice:
• Keep all receipts in case you need to return any purchases. Watch out for Counterfeit Condoms22nd November 2007 Trading Standards Officers have discovered fake condoms being sold by businesses in Brent which may not provide proper protection against pregnancy or sexually transmitted diseases. Brent & Harrow Trading Standards Service is warning consumers and businesses to check the serial numbers of Durex condoms before using or selling them. Seven different types of fake three-pack Durex Condoms have been identified as counterfeit. The types and serial numbers of the fake Durex Condoms are as follows: If a business sells counterfeit condoms, or has them in possession for supply, they will be committing a criminal offence. Trading Standards can seize the counterfeit condoms and prosecute traders who do not comply with the law. Selling counterfeit goods could result in a fine. Speaking on this subject, Bill Bilon, the Director of Brent & Harrow Trading Standards Service said – “Fake condoms pose a risk to end users in terms of the lack of protection that they may offer. I urge businesses to check their stocks of these products to ensure that they only stock genuine ones and if they are in any doubt then to contact Trading Standards. Selling fake goods is a serious criminal offence and my officers will continue to visit businesses and take appropriate action.” If you are a consumer and you have bought counterfeit condoms then you should take them back to the shop that you purchased them from and obtain a refund. You can contact Brent & Harrow Trading Standards Service on 020 8937 5555. Alternatively you can contact the Durex consumer helpline on 0800 338 739. • The Trade Marks Act 1994 creates a criminal offences if a trader sells or offers to sell counterfeit goods and a breach of this Act could result in an unlimited fine and or up to ten years imprisonment Fake Lighters Spark Alert22nd November 2007 Brent & Harrow Trading Standards is warning consumers and businesses that counterfeit lighters have been circulating widely throughout the UK. Officers have visited a number of businesses in Brent and seized hundreds of these potentially dangerous fake lighters.
Counterfeit Clipper lighters are available in a number of colours and are generally sold for the same price as genuine ones. The differences between the two are easy to spot.
• Counterfeits have an unsafe, loose gas lever with no safety spring underneath Unfortunately the counterfeit lighters are not produced to the same safety standard as the genuine ones. Counterfeit Clipper lighters are not refillable and may leak.
Speaking on this subject, Bill Bilon, the Director of Brent & Harrow Trading Standards Service said –
“Genuine Clipper lighters are perfectly safe, but counterfeit copies may prove extremely dangerous. These counterfeit lighters could leak and cause a fire or even injure someone. The sale of counterfeit goods is a lucrative business for organised criminals in the UK and whilst counterfeit goods may look good at first sight they are generally of poor quality and do not stand up to repeated use. Anyone involved in the trade in fake products can face an unlimited fine and/or up to ten years imprisonment”
Any consumer or business that needs further information on this subject should contact Trading Standards on 020 8937 5527 or visit our web site www.tradingstandards.gov.uk/brent&harrow
• The Trade Marks Act 1994 creates a criminal offences if a trader sells or offers to sell counterfeit goods and a breach of this Act could result in an unlimited fine and or up to ten years imprisonment • Photos of the counterfeit lighters are available on request• Surelock International Ltd act for the manufacturers of Clipper lighters in relation to identifying fakes. Visit Surelock’s web site at www.surelock.org for further details about counterfeit clipper lighters. This website contains pictures which help identify counterfeit clipper lighters • For further information on this press release please contact Simon Legg on 020 8937 5522 or Lee Wenzel on 020 8937 5527
Fire risk from faulty electric blankets15th November 2007 People attempting to keep warm this winter are being warned they could be sleeping with a dangerous electric blanket every night. After safety tests carried out on electric blankets in Brent and Harrow found an alarming one in four to be unsafe. Brent and Harrow Trading Standards Service ran three days of FREE electric blanket testing in partnership with London Fire Brigade and Age Concern. These tests were carried out between 24th – 26th September 2007 at the Pinner Village Hall, Harrow Leisure Centre and at the Trading Standards Offices in Willesden Green. Following a test of 115 blankets an independent expert electrical engineer employed by Trading Standards declared 22% of them unsafe. The main findings were, exposed live parts due to wear and tear, lack of protection from overheating, damaged electrical wiring and simply the age of the blankets which prevented them from meeting current safety standards. All condemned blankets were then subsequently destroyed. Every year in the United Kingdom, there are between 800 and 1,000 fires caused by faulty electric blankets. Quite often, the blankets are old and have never been serviced. If you wish to be added to the Trading Standards Service mailing list for next year’s event then please call 020 8937 5526 or email trading.standards@brent.gov.uk. As part of the safety campaign, Fire Prevention Officers were on hand to give advice to residents on home safety, offering them the opportunity to have smoke detectors supplied and fitted free of charge. For further information on having a free smoke alarm fitted please call free on 0800 028 4428 or email smokealarms@london-fire.gov.uk. Bil Bilon, Director of Trading Standards for Brent and Harrow said, “Just as in previous years, we have seen that local residents are using faulty and often potentially lethal electric blankets. We cannot afford to be complacent where safety is concerned and I would urge anyone who has a blanket that is more than three years old to avail themselves of our free service.” 1. For further information, please contact Mina Kanji on 020 8937 5517 MINISTER VISITS BRENT & HARROW TRADING STANDARDS
Gareth Thomas, MP and the Government’s new Minister for Trade and Consumer Affairs made a fact finding visit to London Boroughs of Brent & Harrow Trading Standards Service on Thursday, 27 September 2007, to see at first hand how one of the country’s best trading standards services operates. The Minister, who is also the Member of Parliament for Harrow West, took up his new post at the end of June as part of the machinery of government changes made by the Prime Minister Gordon Brown - so was keen to visit a variety of key stakeholders over the coming months to learn more about their work. During the visit Mr Thomas spoke to a number of staff to find out for himself some of the issues affecting Trading Standards Officers, both locally and nationally. He was given an insight into the wide range of work that is carried out by Trading Standards and the difficulties that many Services face with lack of resources, and recruitment and retention of qualified staff. Mr Thomas was taken on a tour of the team’s offices, laboratories and evidence rooms and took the opportunity to speak with front line staff, the Director of Trading Standards and other senior officers from Brent & Harrow Councils. The Minister also saw examples of counterfeit and unsafe goods, including the testing of electrical goods imported from China. Bill Bilon, Director of Trading Standards said, "I am pleased that the Minister took the opportunity to come to Brent & Harrow Trading Standards for his first official visit since taking up his new position. He was very interested to learn about the wide range of legislation that we enforce and the problems that we face whilst dealing with issues such as counterfeit and unsafe goods, doorstep crime, clocked cars and underage sales of age restricted goods. I am sure that this visit has given him an understanding of the important role that Trading Standards Services play in protecting local consumers and legitimate businesses”. Gareth Thomas said, “Trading Standards officers around the country do a fantastic job protecting consumers and businesses. Teams like the one I met today are crucial to ensuring that we have a safe and secure trading environment in the UK.” No Where To RunOn 14th and 16th August as part of an ongoing operation to tackle counterfeiters, officers from Brent and Harrow Trading Standards seized an estimated £500,000 worth of trainers which they suspected as being counterfeit and in breach of Trade Marks of well known sportswear manufacturers from premises located in Harrow and Hertfordshire. A further seizure was carried out of trainers on 7th September 2007 from a store in Slough which has an estimated street value of £110,000. Intelligence was received that huge numbers of parcels were being delivered to various storage units in Harrow and Watford. Officers obtained entry warrants for the storage units and the house where the counterfeiter was living. On 14th August, Trading Standards Officers simultaneously executed entry warrants at the counterfeiters’ house and storage units in Harrow. Evidence was obtained from the search at the house that the counterfeiter had numerous other storage units. A further entry warrant was obtained for a storage unit which revealed approximately 70 boxes containing trainers. One suspect was arrested and taken to the local Police station for questioning. He was later released on bail to a date in October pending further enquires. On 16th August, after receiving further intelligence that the counterfeiter was due to receive another consignment, Trading Standards Officers visited another storage facility in Hertfordshire and upon arrival, they noticed an articulated lorry being unloaded. An examination of the goods on board revealed a cache of over 8,000 pairs of Nike branded trainers which were suspected of being counterfeit and in breach of registered Trade Marks. Three men were arrested at the scene and taken to the local Police Station for questioning and were later released on bail. On 7th September, after receiving further intelligence on yet another storage unit being used by the counterfeiter in Slough, an entry warrant was executed by Trading Standards Officers. More than 3,500 pairs of Adidas branded trainers which were suspected of being counterfeit and in breach of Adidas’s registered Trade Mark were seized. Bill Bilon Director of Trading Standards said “I am pleased that my Officers have broken this counterfeiting ring, which involved importing the goods from China and storing them temporarily at storage units in Harrow and Watford until they were distributed around the country. I am grateful for the assistance we have received during this operation particularly from Hertfordshire Constabulary. Counterfeiting is a serious problem in Brent and Harrow. Legitimate traders who are trying to make an honest living by selling genuine items are often undercut by counterfeiters and their business suffers as a result. Counterfeit goods may look good at first sight but they are generally of poor quality and do not stand up to repeated use. Anyone involved in the trade in fake products can face up to ten years imprisonment and my team will continue to take action wherever they see infringements of this legislation.” Local watchdogs Left Deflated by ‘Wheely’ Poor ResultsA recent survey by Brent and Harrow Trading Standards Service revealed that an alarming fifty percent of tyre repairers that were tested failed to repair punctures safely. The effect of these unsafe repairs could be potentially disastrous for drivers and other road users. Officers from the Service posing as ordinary consumers visited businesses in order to assess whether they carried out repairs correctly and safely in accordance with the British Standard BS AU 159f:1997. This British Standard specifies how motor vehicle puncture repairs should be carried out. During the survey, an industry expert was commissioned by the Service to induce punctures to the tyres following which officers took them to various businesses to be repaired. The expert examined the repaired tyres and concluded that those that were not repaired in accordance with the standard were likely to result in loss of pressure which, in turn, could result in vehicle handling difficulties on the public highway. One particular tyre that had been ‘repaired’ was found to be losing pressure even before it was examined by the expert. In addition to the repairs carried out to punctured tyres, test purchases of part worn tyres were also carried out. In one case, a part worn tyre bought by undercover officers failed to meet the requirements of the Motor Vehicle Tyres (Safety) Regulations 1994 in that the tyre itself had a puncture, which was not repaired with accordance with The British Standard BS AU 159f:1997. Our advice to consumers is that tyres should be taken only to reputable traders for repair. These traders should repair a puncture by removing the tyre from the rim. The puncture should then be repaired from the inside of the tyre using an internally applied patch in conjunction with appropriate filling material or a combination plug patch. Bill Bilon, Director of Trading Standards, said: “It is disappointing and worrying to note that some businesses carry out such substandard repairs and by doing so are putting the lives of drivers and pedestrians at risk everyday. Having a fifty percent failure rate is totally unacceptable and rings alarm bells in both boroughs. Consumers need to know that when they take a punctured tyre to a business to be repaired, then that repair is such that they will be able to drive on our roads in complete safety. The British Standard is there so that there is uniformity and clarity in how repairs should be affected. This Service takes this matter seriously and is committed to ensuring that traders comply with the letter of the law. Those businesses found not to comply with the relevant Standard are currently under investigation.” Annual Electric Blanket Testing - 2007”Dangerous Old Friend !!!You could be sleeping with a dangerous electric blanket every night. That’s the warning from Brent and Harrow Trading Standards. As winter approaches and the nights get colder, many people will be thinking about using an electric blanket for warmth but, “Will you be as warm as toast or burnt to a crisp?” Shocking statistics released by Trading Standards revealed that out of over 850 blankets tested in the past eight years in Brent and Harrow, 40% failed the basic safety tests, some of which were seriously dangerous. Every year in the United Kingdom, there are more than 5,000 fires caused by old or damaged electric blankets. Quite often, the blankets have never been serviced. To help prevent local residents from adding to these statistics, Brent and Harrow Trading Standards Service have a three day event of FREE electric blanket testing. The free checks take place on To avoid delays, testing is by appointment between 09:30 and 16:30. Any Brent and Harrow residents wishing to book an appointment should telephone Trading Standards on 020 8937 5555 (option 2) or email trading.standards@brent.gov.uk. Bill Bilon, Director of Trading Standards for Brent and Harrow said, “Electrical blanket checks in previous years have shown that many local residents are using faulty and often potentially lethal electric blankets. I would urge anyone who has a blanket that is more than three years old to avail themselves of this free service and have their blanket checked.” 1. The Trading Standards Service for the London Boroughs of Brent and Harrow can be contacted on 0208 937 5555, or by writing to Quality House, 249 Willesden Green, London, NW2 5JH. 2. Further information on this press release can be obtained from Ms Mina Kanji on 020 8937 5526, by fax on 020 8937 5544 or by email on mina.kanji@brent.gov.uk. Age Restricted Products - Responsible Trader Scheme”The Responsible Retailers Scheme was developed by Brent & Harrow Trading Standards Service as part of its ongoing program of business advice. This new initiative is aimed at providing all retailers with the tools they need to comply with laws regarding age restricted products. Trading Standards developed the scheme as a way of working with retailers to try and reduce sales of these products to under age youngsters. As a result, a pack has been produced to give retailers and their employees clear information on the law and also advice on good practice measures that should be adopted to prevent such sales taking place. This scheme was launched on 7 September 2007.The documents can be downloaded here Age Restricted Products - Responsible Trader Scheme Gold Award of Excellence for Authenticity Testing of Spirits”THAT’S THE SPIRIT Brent and Harrow Trading Standards Service have been renowned as one of the Award Winning Authorities in the UK by the International Federation of Spirit Producers (IFSP UK), in recognition of the excellent level of work carried out by the Service in relation to protecting Consumers from being “Ripped Off” by the supply of cheap substitutes and adulterated spirits in licensed premises. Officers from the Service were presented with the Gold Award of Excellence at the Trading Standards Institutes Annual Conference which took place on the 27th June 2007 in Manchester. The award was presented by Mr Fraser Morrison, Director of The Famous Grouse, on behalf of IFSP UK which is the trade association set up to support enforcement in the field of Counterfeiting and Substitution of Spirits, and represents the main spirit brand owners in the UK. Over the past three years Brent and Harrow Trading Standards Service, have visited over 100 licensed premises and conducted over 350 screen tests on spirits, and formally sampled over 50 branded spirits and cognacs along with conducting comprehensive inspections at all these premises. Screen tests were conducted using authenticity test kits for spirits such as Gordon’s Gin, Smirnoff Vodka and Bacardi Rum, and a portable brand authenticator was used for testing the whisky. This device is a Spectrometer which works by passing ultra violet “light” through the sample and measuring the amount of light transmitted at a number of different wavelengths. During the operations a number of problems were identified which included, the failure to display price lists, and the necessary notices under the Weights and Measures Act 1985, substituting one branded cognac with another, to using unstamped spirit measures, which were seized and destroyed. It is vital that licensees only buy from recognised suppliers to ensure they are not contributing to organised criminal activity, as buying spirits from anyone other than a legitimate supplier might save money in the short term but there is a high risk involved. Mr Bilon Director of Trading Standards for the London Boroughs of Brent and Harrow stated, “Consumers have a right to receive exactly what they ask for, and we at Trading Standards will continue to ensure customers are not receiving substituted brands or short measure of spirits. Anti-substitution activity carried out by our Officers has had the desired effect and that with an additional resource of this kind customers on the Boroughs are likely to be served with what they ask for and not be ripped off with cheap illicit alternatives. We are aware that certain counterfeit spirits have been found to contain Methanol which can cause severe stomach pain, vomiting, and even blindness. This pro-active stance by Officers of the department has contributed to the reduction in substitution rates. All licensees must ensure that the drinks they sell are genuine by only buying from reputable sources. They should also have systems in place to ensure the drinks they sell are not tampered with. This could involve simple steps such as stock control, secure storage and staff training”. Any member of the public who suspects that they are not being served the brand they asked for or have any other relevant information can contact the Trading Standards Service in confidence on 020 8937 5555, writing to Quality House, 249 Willesden Lane, London, NW2 5JH, or via email to trading.standards@brent.gov.uk. NOTES FOR EDITORS Picture of Presentation of Gold Award Annual Child Car Seat Safety Testing Days”Trading Standards for Brent and Harrow once again held their annual Child Car Seat Safety Testing Days in the two Boroughs on the 18th and 19th June. This coincided with Child Safety Week and also allowed the Service to raise public awareness relating to the safety of goods normally used by children. Many people have car seats and are unfamiliar as to how to fit them correctly, this could be potentially life threatening to the child. The law states that it is compulsory for all children up to 135cm (or 12 years of age) to be suitably restrained. Any driver not complying with this will be issued with a fixed penalty notice of up to £30.00. If the penalty notice is appealed the driver could find themselves being fined a maximum of £500 in court. It is the driver's responsibility to ensure that children under the age of 14 years are either using an appropriate child restraint or an adult seat belt if available. Working in partnership with Graco, a child seat manufacturer, the fitting and appropriateness of the child seat was assessed with excellent advice being provided to the parents. Many of the faults were rectified on the spot. In other cases the drivers were given an exact breakdown of the faults discovered and the remedy required. The results over the two days were very positive. This year we had a 70% increase in the number of car seats we tested. Out of 135 children’s seats that were checked, 33% were found to be fitted incorrectly, which is a huge improvement from last year’s results where 45% of child car seats were incorrectly fitted. A range of faults were discovered with the majority of the seats not fastened securely or the seat belt routed wrongly. Some of the seats failed to meet the current standards with the child being either too old or too young for the seat. All the parents we spoke to found the event to be extremely useful and gave them reassurance that their child was travelling safely. On the day it was found that the majority of parents believed that their seats were incorrectly fitted as a result of time constraints and lack of knowledge. A local resident from Brent stated that the information and advice provided by Trading Standards and Graco was very helpful and gave them peace of mind about the safety of their car seat. Another consumer stated that the campaign was very beneficial and informative. Brent and Harrow Trading Standards would like to thank Sainsbury’s and Morrisons for allowing the Service to use their respective stores as venues, and also to Graco for providing the two experts, without whom the two days would not have been the huge success it was. Picture of childrens car seat being tested Fire risk from faulty electric blankets 2006”People attempting to keep warm this winter are being warned they could be sleeping with a killer, after safety tests carried out on electric blankets in Brent and Harrow found an alarming one in five to be unsafe. Brent and Harrow Trading Standards Service ran three days of FREE electric blanket testing in partnership with London Fire Brigade and Age Concern. These tests were carried out between 25th – 27th September 2006 at the Pinner Village Hall, Harrow Leisure Centre and at the Trading Standards Offices in Willesden Green. Following a test of 128 blankets an independent expert electrical engineer employed by Trading Standards declared 20 per cent of them unsafe. The main findings were exposed live parts due to wear and tear, lack of protection from overheating, damaged electrical wiring and the blanket’s age, preventing it from meeting current standards. A voucher scheme was set up whereby each condemned blanket retained by the Trading Standards Service was exchanged for a voucher giving the resident the opportunity of purchasing a brand new blanket at a discounted price. All condemned blankets were then subsequently destroyed. Every year in the United Kingdom, there are between 800 and 1,000 fires caused by faulty electric blankets. Quite often, the blankets are old and have never been serviced. If you wish to be added to the Trading Standards Service mailing list for next year’s event then please call 020 8937 5526 or email trading.standards@brent.gov.uk. As part of the safety campaign, Fire Prevention Officers were on hand to give advice to residents on home safety, offering them the opportunity to have smoke detectors supplied and fitted free of charge. For further information on having a free smoke alarm fitted please call free on 0800 028 4428 or email smokealarms@london-fire.gov.uk. John Taylor, Director of Trading Standards for Brent and Harrow said, “Just as in previous years, we have seen that local residents are using faulty and often potentially lethal electric blankets. We cannot be complacent where safety is concerned and I would urge anyone who has a blanket that is more than three years old to avail themselves of our free service.” Does the drinks industry really go the “extra mile”According to the licensed trade press many retailers are going the “extra mile” in order to prevent under-age drinkers from buying alcohol. One scheme adopted by some retailers nationally is for sales staff to challenge anyone who appears to be under the age of twenty-one. They ask for identification from the buyer and if they are unable to produce any, then the sale is refused. The idea is that if sales staff have the age of twenty-one in mind, then they are less likely to sell alcohol to anyone under the age of eighteen, when they would be committing a criminal offence. During a recent under-age test purchasing campaign in the London Borough of Harrow, children aged thirteen were able to buy alcohol at nine out of thirty-four premises visited. None of the children were asked for identification. During this operation officers noticed a large number of pubs, supermarkets and off licenses who claimed to be implementing a challenge 21 policy. It was decided to undertake a short survey using a nineteen year old to see if the challenge 21 policy was actually being implemented. The nineteen year old visited a total of sixteen premises of which nine were supermarkets, five were pubs and two, off licenses. At eleven of the premises he was correctly asked for identification and the sale was refused when none could be produced. However at five of the premises the nineteen year old was able to buy alcohol without being asked for identification. Of these five premises, one was a supermarket, two were off licenses and two were pubs. John Taylor, Director of Trading Standards for Brent and Harrow said, “It is pleasing to see that around 70% of Harrow retailers we checked were following their own policy, but this exercise clearly shows that in some companies, the message still has to filter down to staff. Even though these five premises are not committing any criminal offence by selling alcohol to a nineteen year old, they are going against their own policy of challenging anyone who appears to be under the age of twenty one. It is my view that some retailers are misleading their customers into thinking that they are going the extra mile in trying to prevent under age sales from occurring”. Trading Standards Officers will be writing to the five Companies concerned reminding them to comply with their own policy on challenging anyone who appears to be under the age of twenty-one. Notes to editors For further information please contact Simon Martin or Martin Grout on 020-8937-5511LICENSED PREMISES SELLING ALCOHOL TO CHILDRENTrading Standards Officers from the London Borough of Harrow, working in partnership with Harrow Police Neighbourhood Teams have been targeting pubs and off licences in the last month as part of the Governments crackdown on anti-social behaviour. The Alcohol Misuse Enforcement Campaign (AMEC) has been continuing in Harrow following the successful exercise carried out in the run up to last Christmas. Trading Standards and Police Officers have been using children to attempt to make purchases of alcohol at pubs and off licenses in Harrow. The children used for the test purchasing exercise were aged between thirteen and sixteen years old and all were obviously under the permitted age of eighteen. During the last four weeks a total of twenty three pubs and eleven off licenses have been visited with illegal sales taking place at six pubs and three off licenses. The alcohol that was bought by the children included Bacardi Breezers, Smirnoff Ice, Guinness and a bottle of red wine. The total number of alcohol units is 29.5. The safe recommended maximum unit of alcohol per week is twenty one for a man and fourteen for a woman.Police Officers have issued £80 fixed penalty notices to the sellers of the alcohol at the pubs, while Trading Standards Officers are investigating the sales which occurred at the off licenses. At one off license the sale was made by the thirteen year old daughter of the licensee. It is possible that in the future, representations could be made to the Licensing Committee for Harrow, which could result in a licensee losing their personal license. John Taylor, Director of Trading Standards said, “under age sales of alcohol is a serious matter not just for this Service, but for society as a whole, when kids can get hold of alcopops, wine, beer and occasionally spirits, they often drink to excess causing harm to themselves, as well as creating considerable nuisance to others. The Trading Standards Service, in conjunction with Harrow Police, is determined to stamp out these illegal sales in Harrow, and firm action will be taken against anyone selling alcohol to children. I would urge all licensees to make sure that they and their staff comply with the law”. Anyone wishing to contact the Trading Standards Service for the London Boroughs of Brent and Harrow can do so, in confidence, by writing to Quality House, 249 Willesden Lane, London, NW2 5JH, or on 020 8937 5555, or e-mail to trading.standards@brent.gov.uk Notes for Editors1. Further information on this press release can be obtained from Simon Martin or Sanju Manji on 020-8937-5523. 2. The Licensing Act 2003 creates an offence for anyone to sell alcohol to a person under the age of eighteen. 3. A person guilty of an offence under these provisions of the Licensing Act 2003 can be liable to a fixed penalty of £80, or if convicted at a Magistrates Court, to a fine of up to £5000 per offence. 4. A photograph of the alcohol is available on request (see photo below).
Rogue Builders AlertBrent and Harrow Trading Standards have issued a warning to the public to be vigilant against unscrupulous traders calling door to door and offering to carry out repairs and improvements to their properties. Trading Standards Officers have recently received a number of complaints from local residents who have been approached by people driving around in vans and lorries who knock on their doors and point out apparent problems with their homes and then offer to repair them. Once the initial quote has been accepted and the builders are on site, the costs begin to escalate as more and more work is allegedly discovered which requires attention.In one recent case a builder approached an elderly person and began working on their patio. Initial demands were made for £2,000 which rose to £4,000 despite their protests that they did not want the work done. In another case a householder was approached and told that a number of roof tiles needed replacing and a price was agreed for the work. However, once the trader had removed a large quantity of tiles he demanded more cash to finish the job, claiming that he had discovered serious problems with the supporting rafters. The following advice is given by the Trading Standards Service to local residents who may wish to have any building work carried out:-
HOW TO TELL IF CHARITIES ARE BOGUS OR GENUINEBrent and Harrow Trading Standards want to raise awareness so that the public become more cautious as to who they donate their unwanted clothing. To assist identifying the genuine charities from the bogus, Trading Standards suggest looking out for the following;-
SAY NO TO DVD STREET TRADERSBrent Council is urging businesses to close their doors to DVD street traders in a crack down on a trade that’s rife with crime and costing the UK economy millions. Wembley Town Centre and other areas of Brent are often inundated with sellers of counterfeit DVDs, but many people don’t realise the real cost of buying these cheap films. It is estimated that UK criminals earn £600m a year from pirated DVDs, and about 23 per cent of the pirated DVDs sold came from street sellers. Brent and Harrow Trading Standards say not only are the sales taking trade from legitimate businesses, but counterfeit movies can be pornographic and available to anyone, including children. Recent raids of DVD’s in London have shown that some street traders are also selling movies featuring child pornography. Bill Bilon, Deputy Director of Trading Standards said, “Our experience shows that many of the pirate DVD sellers are Chinese asylum seekers or illegal immigrants who are forced into this trade by their ‘gang masters’ and the profits that are made is used to fund other illegal activity such as people trafficking.” Councillor Lesley Jones, Lead member for Environment and Culture said, “Residents may think they are getting a bargain buying a Hollywood blockbuster for £5, but in reality buying these DVDs or allowing trade in your premises could be helping serious criminal activity.” Trading Standards have prepared a poster for businesses in English and Chinese which bans DVD sellers from premises. They ask businesses to turn away illegal traders and report them to the police or Trading Standards Service.
London Boroughs of Brent and Harrow, Trading Standards Service, |
