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Recent Press releases
Trading Standards Lift Award on Cup Final DayBrent & Harrow Trading Standards collected an award at Wembley Stadium, prior to the FA Cup Final, in recognition of their continuing work in the field of anti-counterfeiting. The award, a Manchester City Football Club ‘Anti-Counterfeiting Programme’ shield, was presented on behalf of the club by the ‘IP Crime Unit’, who represents the Premier League and various football clubs who play in the league in terms of their intellectual property protection which includes trade marks and copy rights. Working with colleagues from the London Borough of Brent’s Licensing Team prior to and after the majority of the events at the national stadium, the Trading Standards teams have made significant in-roads into the large problem of counterfeit and poor quality merchandise being sold to fans attending football matches. Trading Standard’s Head of Service, Bill Bilon, expressed his pleasure on hearing the news of the award. He commented, ‘My officers have been working regularly at Wembley Stadium on event days since it was opened in 2007. What was a persistent problem of counterfeit merchandise being sold at matches has been reined right in as a result of our enforcement, working in partnership with out colleagues who prevent illegal street trading. Spectators are now able to attend the ground without being pestered by itinerant street traders offering poor quality and often fake goods for sale. Not only does this protect the brand owners’ right and the public from mistakenly buying these goods, but the overall impression that visitors have of their time in Wembley is enhanced rather than spoilt’. The award was presented to Senior Enforcement Officer, Jon Ashby, by the IP Crime Unit’s Rachel Sullivan. Notes to Editors 1. For more information please contact Simon Legg of Brent & Harrow Trading Standards Service on 020 8937 5522 Can You Tell Genuine from Counterfeit Wine?Trading Standards Officers in Brent and Harrow have recently made a number of seizures of counterfeit Jacob’s Creek wine from independent retailers. At one shop, 250 bottles were seized and extensive enquiries are being made as to the source of these bottles. It appears that much of London has been flooded with these fakes but consumers can easily spot them as a close examination of the rear of the label will reveal the mis-spelling of “Australia” as “Austrlia”. Some consumers have noticed the difference in taste between the genuine and counterfeit wines, but thankfully tests have revealed that the fake Jacob’s Creek wine is not harmful to health. Bill Bilon, Head of Brent and Harrow Trading Standards Service has this warning for traders; “Traders should only buy from legitimate sources and I advise them to check their stock carefully for any fake bottles. Traders are responsible for the goods that they sell and swift and robust action will be taken by my officers if counterfeit wine is discovered to be on sale in Brent and Harrow. Consumers are clearly paying for something that they are not getting and any consumers who are concerned about wine which they believe may be fake should contact this Service either by telephone on 020 8937 5555 or e-mail on trading.standards@brent.gov.uk 1) For further information on this press release, please contact Simon Martin on 0208 937 5533. Christmas Cons and Advice1. Buying On line In most cases when you shop online or via mail order catalogue you have the right to cancel your order and receive a full refund, even if you don’t like the goods or have simply changed your mind. This is in addition to your normal statutory rights. You normally have seven days to cancel a contract which starts the day after you receive your goods. Make sure you print or save details of your order, including the traders name, address, contact details, order reference number and product descriptions, so that if there is a problem you know where to return. 2. Product Safety Be safe this Christmas whether you are looking to buy Christmas lights, electrical goods as presents or even an extra heater to keep you warm, always make sure that your intended purchases have a CE mark, the manufacturer’s identity or mark, ensure it has a 3 pin plug, and more complex items should have warnings and instructions for use supplied with them. The same advice regarding the CE marking and manufactures identity applies to all toys, whether they are large expensive items or pocket money ‘stocking fillers’. Instructions for use and appropriate warnings should also accompany the toy and you must ensure that the intended age for its use is applicable to the child that you are purchasing it for. 3. Fakes In the current financial climate, you may be tempted by a product for sale at a cheaper price. But, watch out. Counterfeit goods such as DVDs, computer games, clothing, perfume, electrical hair straighters and jewellery make appear to be a bargain, but it practice they rarely are. The quality is often very poor, you may be supporting organised crime with your purchase and you are depriving the legitimate industry and those who sell genuine goods. 4. Charity Collectors Whilst most charity collectors are genuine, sadly some people try and take advantage of the public's generosity. If you are in any doubt about the legitimacy of a charity collector or a collection bag delivered thorough your door, check the charity’s name and registration number. You can find these on the Charity Commission’s website at www.charitycommission.gov.uk. If you have any doubt, charities would always welcome your donation directly. 5. Energy Meter Keys As more us are turning up our heating during this cold snap, electricity users who use prepayment meters should be aware that criminals have managed to clone the meter keys used to top up electricity and have been offering the keys for half the usual price. Customers get the cheap electricity, but when the electricity companies find out who can tell where the dodgy cards have been used, the customers end up having to pay for the electricity they have illegally used. Meter key customers are advised to only use official locations to top up their electricity. 6. Buying Goods on your Credit Card If any of your Christmas purchases cost more than £100, it is worth paying for them, or even just a part of them such as the deposit, with a credit card. This is because Section 75 of the Consumer Credit Act 1974 makes the credit card company equally liable for any breaches of contract or if the goods fail to match its description. In other words, you can also ask the credit card company for compensation if things go wrong. 7. Christmas Loans Consumers may be forced to borrow money from unregulated loan sharks to pay for Christmas. Many of these loan sharks are unlicensed and charge extortionate rates of interest. You must be certain if you are borrowing money that it is only coming from a reputable lender. Check you understand what you are agreeing to and ensure that you can afford to make the repayments which might go on for years to come. If not you may end up paying a fortune in interest before even beginning to start repaying the capital of the loan itself. 8. Call out Charges Not everything runs smoothly at Christmas. You may need a repair to a boiler, electrics or plumbing at very short notice. Make sure that all contract terms for any repairs and servicing work are clear and precise. A business must not commence work without the customer's express consent, and if unexpected additional work is then needed, the customer should be notified and further permission obtained before any extra work is carried out. A trader must provide an invoice or receipt showing full details of work carried out, including any parts supplied, labour and other costs. If requested, you will make replaced parts available for return to the customer. A trader must make any "call out" charge or "minimum charge" known to the customer prior to a visit being made. 9. Holidays If you booked a holiday over Christmas or the New Year, check whether the travel agent or tour operator is a member of a trade association, such as ABTA (Association of British Travel Agents) or AITO (Association of Independent Tour Operators). They will then be bound by the relevant association's code of practice and the association could be prepared to step in if any problems occur. If you have booked a package holiday, ask about bonding - this legal requirement protects your money in the event of the tour operator becoming insolvent and should mean you get your money back. Furthermore, with all of this weeks disruption at our airports, make sure you check there aren’t delays with your airline before you travel and be prepared should the worst case scenario mean you get stranded. 10. Ticket Agencies If you fancy seeing a popular show or act over the festive season, be warned of bogus ticketing agencies. Unrepeatable businesses offer tickets for a price well over that which the tickets were originally available for claiming they can get the best seats. However, after you'd paid, the tickets didn't' arrive or if they do, they could be fake. Only buy from official agencies and if you can’t, run a search on the internet to see if there's any adverse criticism about the ticket company, find out where is their office and do they have a landline number in this country?11. Doorstep Selling Make sure you know your rights when people call at your door. Legislation applies to any contract where goods or services (with some exceptions) are supplied costing over £35 to a consumer, that is signed by the consumer at their home, place of work, at another individuals home. The Regulations provide a seven day cooling off period and require cancellation rights to be clearly and prominently displayed. 12. Unwanted Gifts Shops are not legally obliged to accept returns unless they were faulty when they were bought, they are not as described or they are not fit for purpose. If an unwanted present does not fit you, or you don't like it, you have no automatic right to return it. However, many shops have their own returns policy, particularly when it comes to Christmas gifts, so you may find the shop is willing to refund or exchange your unwanted item without question. This does not impact in anyway, your legal rights under the Sale of Goods Act. Bill Bilon, Head of Brent and Harrow Trading Standards said "Christmas is, unfortunately, an ideal time for rogue traders to try and maximise their sales or profit to the unsuspecting public. Not only are they cheating the public who can find themselves in frantic situations over the Christmas period, but they also sometimes put people in danger from faulty or badly-designed goods” Notes for editors 1. For further information on this press release please contact Simon Legg on 020 8937 5522. 2. For more information on the work of Brent and Harrow Trading Standards Service please see our website at www.tradingstandards.gov.uk/brent&harrow Fake booze among Week of Action seizure19 bottles of counterfeit whisky and vodka were seized by Brent and Harrow Trading Standards during safety blitz in South Harrow. Officers also seized fake condoms and counterfeit Gucci handbags, shoes and purses from 3 premises in the area. Other traders were also caught selling unclassified DVDs, suspect cosmetics and tobacco products not carrying the required health warning. The operations formed part of a Week of Action by the police, council and others to clean up public spaces across South Harrow and stamp out criminal activity. Many of the visits were carried out in partnership with officers from HM Revenue and Customs. Further investigation is now ongoing in relation to the seizures and legal proceedings may be instituted by Trading Standards after these enquiries are completed. Cllr Phillip O’Dell, Portfolio Holder for Environment and Community Safety on Harrow Council, said: Brent & Harrow Trading Standards Highly Commended in Anti Counterfeiting Group AwardsBrent and Harrow Trading Standards Service and one of the Service’s Officers, Lee Wenzel have each been ‘highly commended’ by the Anti Counterfeiting Group (ACG) at their annual award ceremony. The awards recognise exceptional achievements in anti-counterfeiting during the preceding year. The ACG makes awards to Trading Standards Officers and Departments, Police, Customs and other enforcement organisations, for their outstanding work in the fight against counterfeiting. ACG members nominate candidates from across the country and a panel of members then decide who should receive the awards. The awards have been running for the past 16 years to mark the implementation of the duty placed on local authorities to enforce the relevant provisions of the Trade Marks Act 1994, the legislation which primarily is used to prohibit the manufacturing and sale of counterfeit goods. Brent and Harrow Trading Standards Service have been a leading authority in the fight against counterfeiting with a robust enforcement policy that has led to numerous counterfeiters being prosecuted in Court. The Service is continually finding different products that counterfeiters are illegally trading, discovered in shops, markets and online. Although the stereotypical trade in fake goods such as DVDs and sportswear continue to be prevalent, new counterfeit products are flooding the market such as trainers, batteries, razor blades, printer cartridges, foot files, lighters, branded car number plates, hair straighteners, camera film, food products and even condoms! As part of every investigation, as well as investigating the supply chain of the counterfeit goods, the Service assesses the financial circumstances of all of the suspects caught involved with them. The Proceeds of Crime Act 2002 allows for the confiscation of assets that have been acquired as a result of crime which is not only an excellent way of taking cash from the criminals, but is another heavy duty enforcement tool used in the war against counterfeiters. These investigations are lead by Lee Wenzel, the Service’s Accredited Financial Investigator (AFI) who was also ‘highly commended’ by the ACG for his work. Lee, who was seconded to the Metropolitan Police Regional Assets Recovery Team for six months, working at Scotland Yard, has been instrumental in ensuring the Proceeds of Crime Act is being fully utilised - the Service now conducts confiscation proceedings as a matter of course. Bill Bilon, Head of Brent and Harrow Trading Standards Service who attended a ceremony in Crewe to receive the awards said, “We have won awards on five previous occasions ever since they began, and I am delighted to see that the Service continues to maintain its high profile in anti- counterfeiting work. However, I must thank my highly professional and motivated team of staff because, without them, the Service wouldn’t be able to achieve all that it does."Richard Heath, ACG Council Chair, commented that “Brent & Harrow Trading Standards continues to offer a model for enforcement excellence and thoroughly deserve recognition for all their hard work. Lee Wenzel is an asset to the Service doing an outstanding job as a Financial Investigator, using the Proceeds of Crime legislation to confiscate the assets of those who think they can make money from the illegal sale of fakes”. Note for Editors – ACG represents UK and multinational companies in their fight against the trade in fakes. ACG members include lawyers, trade mark agents and brand protection specialists. ACG;s remit includes lobbying, networking and raising awareness, campaigning on behalf of consumers and legitimate business interests, in partnership with government and law enforcement agencies, and other rights organisations. For further information on this press release please contact Simon Legg on 020 8937 5522 Home Information Packs revoked 21 May 2010The effect of this is to provide that sellers and estate agents are no longer required to have or to provide copies of HIPs with effect from 21 May 2010. In order to ensure that people selling their homes continue to make an Energy Performance Certificate available to prospective buyers, the government have laid before Parliament the Energy Performance of Buildings (Certificates and Inspections) (England and Wales) (Amendment) Regulations 2010 which introduce a number of new requirements Home Information Packs revoked - Government Announcement and details
Home Information Packs & Energy Performance CertificatesIf you are thinking of buying or renting a property make sure you know your rights. Buying From 6th April 2009 most homes placed on the market for sale must have a Home Information Pack (HIP) in place on the first day of marketing for potential purchasers to view. A HIP is a set of documents that provides the buyer with key information on the property and must be provided by the
seller or the seller's agent. Key documents a HIP should contain: Freehold properties Leasehold properties • all the compulsory documents above• a copy of the lease Renting From 1 October 2008, most rented properties must have an Energy Performance Certificate (EPC) in place on the first
day of marketing for potential tenants to view. The rating is accompanied by a recommendation report that shows how to improve the dwelling’s energy efficiency. There is no statutory requirement to carry out any of the recommended energy efficiency measures stated in the recommendation report. Example of energy efficiency rating graph for homes Key points • landlords must provide an EPC free of charge to prospective tenants at the earliest opportunity and must provide a copy of the EPC to the person who takes up the tenancy. • Units with shared facilities do not require an EPC. • EPCs are valid for 10 years and can be reused as many times as required within that period. It is not necessary
to commission a new EPC each time there is a change of tenant. • an EPC is not required for any property that was occupied prior to 1 October 2008 and which continues to be occupied after that date by the same tenant. • EPCs must be produced by an accredited assessor, but landlords are free to seek accreditation for themselves and their employees and so become competent to certify their own properties. Where can I find out further information on HIPs and EPCs? • www.direct.gov.uk • www.communities.gov.uk • www.consumerdirect.gov.uk Traders See the LightBrent and Harrow Trading Standards Service announced that none of the shops visited in the London Boroughs of Brent and Harrow sold fireworks to its underage volunteers this year. As a comparison, there were nine such sales in Brent and Harrow during the previous three years. All of the 42 shops that were registered or licensed to sell fireworks in Harrow were visited by Trading Standards officers. During the visit officers gave advice about preventing sales of fireworks to children, for example by asking for proof of age, as well as advice on the safe storage of the fireworks. The same advice was also given to 27 shops in Brent. Over the Diwali and Guy Fawkes season 75% of the shops selling fireworks were visited by Trading Standards under age volunteers working with officers, to see if they could buy fireworks. All the attempts made by the child volunteers were refused by the shop assistants concerned. Bill Bilon, the Director of Brent & Harrow Trading Standards, said, “I’m delighted that none of the businesses visited sold to the Trading Standards volunteers. It is good to see that the advice given by Trading Standards Officers is being heeded by businesses in the Boroughs. We have operated our Responsible Trader Scheme for two years; it is free to join for businesses in the two boroughs and offers valuable advice in relation to procedures and training in order to help in avoiding making sales to children of age restricted products. This year it is good to see that the staff had been trained to turn down under age sales. By refusing to sell fireworks to children traders are playing their part in preventing anti-social behaviour and possible injury or death.” Notes to Editors: 1. The Fireworks (Safety) Regulations 1997 and The Fireworks (Safety) (Amendment) Regulations 2004 stipulate that adult fireworks (which includes sparklers) must not be supplied to persons under 18. 2. Failure to comply with this requirement can result in prosecution and a fine of up to £5,000 or a prison sentence of up to six months, or both. 3. If anyone suspects that a shop is selling age restricted products to children in the Borough of Harrow they can contact Brent & Harrow Trading Standards by the following means:
TEXT “shop” followed by details of the shop and what was sold to 80800; More information can be obtained by contacting Simon Martin, Assistant Head of Service on 020 8937 5533. IF IN DOUBT, KEEP THEM OUT!!Distraction burglary and doorstep crime are heinous offences in which our elderly and most vulnerable residents are often targeted by thieves who pose as officials or the police by claiming to have a legitimate reason for entering their house or inspecting their utility meters. Once inside, they use distraction tactics to rifle through personal belongings and steal money and other valuable possessions completely unnoticed. Another ploy used by rogue builders is to cold call at an address and claim that unnecessary work needs to be carried out at the property, which then escalates into a much bigger and more expensive job. To help prevent Brent residents from falling victim to this type of crime, Brent & Harrow Trading Standards, in partnership with the Neighbourhood Working Team, commissioned the ‘Attic Theatre Company’ to put on an entertaining play called ‘Ma Kelly’s Doorstep’ for FREE at the Tricycle Theatre in Kilburn on Thursday 24th September 2009. The play was resounding success, with over 80 Brent borough residents in attendance. Over 30 of them were also provided with transport to and from the venue by Brent Community Transport. The play highlighted just how easy it can be for residents to be burgled or ripped off for thousands of pounds by rogue builders or someone posing as an official, such as from the council or the police. All the audience thought the performers were fantastic and brought the dangers of distraction burglary to life for them. Residents engaged with the actors during the performance to share their concerns about ‘who was at the door of Ma Kelly’. One local resident stated, “It was brilliantly done and really got the message across in a fun way.” After the play, residents were treated to a lunch provided by Marks & Spencer’s and relished the opportunity to speak to the local police from Kilburn Safer Neighbourhoods Team. The Mayor, Councillor Jim O’Sullivan was also present and stated what a worthwhile event this was. Residents left the theatre armed with lots of useful information and other ‘goodies’ from the community organisations that were present. Some of the top tips that were highlighted during the play were:- • If there’s someone at your door and you’re not expecting a visitor – don’t let them in Bill Bilon, Head of Brent & Harrow Trading Standards said “It is events of this kind which really get the message across to our residents about how to stay safe and not become a victim of distraction burglary or rogue traders. Some simple precautions such as putting a security chain on the door and checking any identification and then telephoning the organisation that the caller says they are from can often put off the opportunist. I am extremely pleased that such large numbers attended the event and hope that many of them will be sharing the information they learnt last Thursday with their friends. Finally, residents should call the Police or Trading Standards immediately, if they feel that they have been a victim of this type of crime.’NOTES TO EDITORS Further information on this press release can be obtained from Kelly Eaton on 020 8937 5565, by fax on 020 8937 5544, or by e-mail on Kelly.eaton@brent.gov.uk Warning to Householders about fake charity collections.Brent and Harrow Trading Standards Service is warning householders not to assume charity leaflets posted through letter boxes are from actual charities. Leaflets typically ask for donations of clothing, shoes and household items claiming that they will be sent to third world countries to help the poor. Many of the collections are not being made by charities, but by commercial operators, who may only make a small (if any) donation to charitable causes. Leaflets being distributed include statements such as 'third world clothing appeal' and 'clothing collection'. These can lead householders to believe the collectors to be acting on behalf of charities whereas in reality, it is very difficult to confirm where the items are likely to end up and that any charitable causes will actually benefit. Similar 'charitable' doorstep collections in the past have been linked to traders who have re-sold the items for profit. The latest leaflets being pushed through letterboxes locally are from W&W Help Ltd. This is despite the fact that the company was dissolved by Companies House back in March 2009. Bill Bilon, Head of Brent and Harrow Trading Standards, said: "We are aware that the majority of door to door collections are no longer made by genuine registered charities, but by businesses who simply sell the goods for profit. "If consumers know this, they might prefer to pass the goods on themselves directly to their local registered charity shop on the high street. "Whilst there are reputable charities that collect clothes and directly benefit good causes, it's always a good idea to check the credentials of the collectors before donating." Anyone wishing to check on whether companies or their associates are registered charities, can telephone the Charity Commission on 0845 3000 218 or search their website at www.charity-commission.gov.uk Consumers who have descriptions of the vehicles being used or the people involved in the distribution of the flyers and the collections are asked to report the information via Consumer Direct on 08454 04 05 06. Notes for editors 1. For further information on this press release please contact Richard Lewis on 020 8937 5513. Electric Blanket may be False FriendsYou could be sleeping with a killer 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 putting yourself at risk of a fire or electric shock? Statistics released by Trading Standards revealed that out of the 215 blankets tested in the past two years in Brent and Harrow, 20% failed the basic safety tests, some seriously.
To help prevent local residents from using a dangerous blanket, Brent and Harrow Trading Standards Service have a day of FREE electric blanket testing. The free check takes place on Monday 21st September 2009 at Harrow Leisure Centre, Christchurch Avenue, Harrow HA3 5BD.
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.
Nagendar 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.”
NOTES TO EDITORS
1. There will be an opportunity to photograph the test day.
2. The Trading Standards Service for the London Boroughs of Brent and Harrow can be contacted on 0208 937 5555/6, or by writing to Quality House, 249 Willesden Green, London, NW2 5JH.
3. Further information on this press release can be obtained from Paul Harris on 020 8937 5523, by fax on 020 8937 5544 or by email on paul.harris@brent .gov.uk.
Trading Standards Intervene to Protect the Elderly from Rogue Builder CheatsOn Friday 21st July 2009 Brent and Harrow Trading Standards Officers with Police assistance at the scene stopped a rogue builder from conning an elderly Brent resident out of £25,000 for only minor repairs to the roof of his home. Trading Standards received a complaint stating that a building firm was acting suspiciously in the Kenton area of Brent and targeting elderly residents. On attending the scene, officers found that an elderly resident had been cold – called a few days previously by the trader who stated that they had completed building work on neighbouring homes. The resident was shown damage to the roof of his home, which is suspected to have been caused by the rogue builder themselves. The resident was initially told that the repairs would only cost £10 - £15 and subjected to pressure to agree to the work. Once he had agreed, the builder then said that a whole range of other jobs would need doing on the roof to stop water leaking through in the future and that the extra work would cost £25,000. Initial estimates of the actual remedial work that was required are in the region of £2,000 - £3,000. The most worryingly aspect was that the rogue builder had reportedly said to the consumer that he would do the work for free if the elderly consumer left them their home in their will. Luckily, Trading Standards were able to intervene in time and stopped a cheque for £13,000 from being cashed by the rogue trader. Officers then learned that the same trader had again attempted to con another elderly resident out of substantial sums to repair damage on a new roof that the builder is suspected of causing himself. Trading Standards and Police partnership operations regularly take place across Brent and Harrow to target doorstep criminals. Brent & Harrow Trading Standards have a policy of responding immediately to reported rogue trader incidents as part of their rapid response protocol. Bill Bilon, Director of Brent & Harrow Trading Standards Service said, “I am delighted that our Rapid Response team have once again thwarted a rogue trader from unscrupulously taking a vulnerable resident’s life savings from him. My Officers will immediately attend these types of incidents as soon as we are notified of them. There is a lot at stake, including residents’ financial and mental wellbeing, and where offences are proven to have taken place we shall deal with the rogue traders involved in the harshest terms”. “As always, we encourage residents not to deal with traders who call at the door unannounced and advise that, if they do want any work done, they obtain different written quotes and recommendations from relatives, neighbours or friends. Above all, please don’t pay money up front as it can be hard to get redress if the traders leave with your cash”. If you need help or want to report suspicious activity then please contact Brent and Harrow Trading Standards on 0208 937 5555 selecting option 1”. Notes for Editors – • The Cancellation of Contracts Made in a Consumer’s Home or Place of Work etc Regulations 2008 state that a consumer must be given a written cooling off period of 7 days when agreeing to a contract at home. If this notice is not provided then the contract is not legally binding and is unenforceable without a court order. • The Fraud Act 2006 creates criminal offences for persons such as rogue traders who dishonestly make false representations for gain or fail to disclose information when they are under a legal obligation to do so. The maximum penalty on conviction in the Crown Court for such offences is an unlimited fine and 10 years imprisonment. • The recent Consumer Protection from Unfair Trading Regulations 2008 creates a general duty on traders to trade fairly. The law creates criminal offences where traders indulge in high – pressure sales tactics or mislead consumers regarding goods and services. • The Business Names Act 1985 states that a trader must provide a consumer with their full contact details and legal identity on any paperwork issued. • For further information on this press release please contact Liam Mooney on 020 8937 5517. Pressure Maintained on Brent and Harrow Borough CowboysOn 20th May 2009 Brent and Harrow Trading Standards Officers together with Police Officers and Immigration Officers again joined forces in a national day of enforcement action targeted against rogue traders who prey on the vulnerable in their homes. It is the second such partnership operation against cowboys in as many months. Dozens of traders working within the two boroughs on the day were stopped and checked to make sure that they were complying with the law. During the checks officers stopped a vehicle responsible for fly tipping incidents in the area, checked many claims of trade association memberships and accreditation advertised by traders, some of which turned out to be false. They also seized flyers from a driveway firm which gave false information to consumers. As a consequence a variety of traders were warned regarding other non-compliances and all were given advice regarding their legal responsibilities to consumers. Information regarding the vehicle connected to the fly tipping incidents will be investigated by the Police now that the culprits have been identified, while Trading Standards Officers will be investigating those falsely claiming membership and accreditation of trade associations. At one stop check three illegal immigrants were arrested and removed by immigration officers pending possible deportation. These illegal immigrants were being employed by roofing, paving and general building companies and were working on residential addresses within the boroughs. Trading Standards and Police Officers regularly receive reports of bogus tradesmen who cold call residents, offering to carry out home improvements for a nominal amount. They seem plausible, even professional, but once work has started the trader can often begin to aggressively demand much larger sums of money and effectively hold the victim to ransom over unfinished work. Furthermore, there are reports that some of these traders are also responsible for distraction burglary. Once they have their foot in the door, they help themselves to cash and valuables found in the property. Rogue tradesmen will often insist on being paid in cash and will give consumers false names, addresses and telephone numbers to try and lessen the chance of comeback for their actions. When consumers enter into a contract in their home, the trader must provide a written notice advising of the consumer’s right to cancel the contract within seven days. Not giving such a cancellation notice means that the contract is not binding and unenforceable without a Court order, technically the consumer will owe the trader nothing. Trading Standards advise consumers who would like work carried out to their property to try and obtain at least three written quotations from different traders before agreeing to a contract. It is also advisable to seek recommendations from friends and family and then to go and view a builder’s work. If a trader is a member of a trade organisation or professional body such as Federation of Master Builders or Trust Mark, then contact them to ensure that they are current members as consumers may be able to get assistance from these organisations in case of any disputes. Bill Bilon, Director of Brent & Harrow Trading Standards Service said, “These partnership enforcement operations targeting doorstep crime will continue on a regular basis until rogue traders get the message that the boroughs of Brent and Harrow are a no go zone for these criminals. As I have said before, honest traders have nothing to fear from us and we seek to protect their legitimate industry against cowboys. We ask consumers not to deal with traders who call at their door and advise that if they do want any work done they obtain different written quotes and recommendations and that they don’t pay up–front. If you need assistance in dealing with a tradesperson or you want to report any suspicious activity then please contact Brent and Harrow Trading Standards on 0208 937 5555”. Notes for Editors – • The Cancellation of Contracts Made in a Consumer’s Home or Place of Work etc Regulations 2008 state that a consumer must be given a written cooling off period of 7 days when agreeing to a contract at home. If this notice is not provided then the contract is not legally binding and is unenforceable without a court order. • The Fraud Act 2006 creates criminal offences for persons such as rogue traders who dishonestly make false representations for gain or fail to disclose information when they are under a legal obligation to do so. The maximum penalty on conviction in the Crown Court for such offences is an unlimited fine and 10 years imprisonment. • The recent Consumer Protection from Unfair Trading Regulations 2008 creates a general duty on traders to trade fairly. The law creates criminal offences where traders indulge in high – pressure sales tactics or mislead consumers regarding goods and services. • The Business Names Act 1985 states that a trader must provide a consumer with their full contact details and legal identity on any paperwork issued. • For further information on this press release please contact Liam Mooney or Winston Brooks on 020 8937 5517 / 5534. Cowboys Caught in Trading Standards Round UpOn 22nd March 2009, Brent and Harrow Trading Standards Officers joined forces with Brent Police Officers in a partnership day of action targeted against rogue traders who prey on vulnerable people in their homes. Traders working within the borough were stopped and checked by Officers to make sure that they were complying with the law. During the checks, a variety of flyers, leaflets, invoices and even van signage was seized, as they either did not state the correct business details of the trader or did not inform the consumer that they were entitled to a legal 7 day cooling off period to think about whether they actually wanted the work carried out. At one stop – check Officers found that an elderly lady had agreed to pay a builder £22,000 for a loft conversion and garden summer house. The victim told officers attending that the builder was demanding initial payment of £14,000 even though the work had just begun and she had not received any paperwork at all from the trader to confirm who they were or what they were going to do for the money. The builder initially gave false details to officers and was found to be carrying out work which Brent Council Building Control Officers confirmed to be of a very poor standard. After consultation with Officers, the victim decided to lawfully terminate the contract with immediate effect and seek the advice of an alternative contractor. Trading Standards and Police Officers regularly receive reports of bogus builders who cold – call Brent residents, offering to carry out home improvements for a nominal amount. They seem plausible, even professional, but once work has started, the trader can aggressively demand much larger sums of money and effectively hold the victim to ransom. False names and addresses are often given by rogue traders so there is less chance of any comeback for the criminal. Bill Bilon, Director of Brent & Harrow Trading Standards Service said, “This Service is committed to ensuring that the boroughs of Brent and Harrow become a no – go zone for rogue traders and these patrols will continue in the future on a regular basis. Honest traders have nothing to fear. The rogues will be found out and dealt with appropriately. The simple message for consumers is that they should not deal with traders who call at their door. It is imperative that before any contract is formed, consumers should obtain a number of different written quotes and seek recommendations from friends or family. Consumers should also not pay money up front but agree a payment plan and stick to it. Please contact Brent and Harrow Trading Standards on 020 8937 5555 if things might be going wrong and you need advice or assistance”. Sergeant Simon Brooker, Problem Solving Advisor at Brent Police said: “This tactic was just one part of a multi – agency day of action in Brent. Positive results such as these further enhance the partnership between the Metropolitan Police Service and Trading Standards. We are looking to develop this tactic with more joint patrols and continue to send out a strong message that rogue traders will not be tolerated in Brent.” Notes for Editors – • The Cancellation of Contracts Made in a Consumer’s Home or Place of Work etc Regulations 2008 state that a consumer must be given a written cooling off period of 7 days when agreeing to a contract at home. • The Business Names Act 1985 states that a trader must provide a consumer with their full contact details on any paperwork issued. • For further information on this press release, please contact Liam Mooney on 020 8937 5517 Brent and Harrow Trading Standards and OFT encourage public to fight back against scammersThe OFT and local authority Trading Standards Services are today launching a nationwide ‘Scamnesty’ campaign asking the public to help in the fight against scams which cost the UK an estimated £3.5 billion a year. Brent and Harrow Trading Standards Service are asking members of the public to collect any potential scam mailings they have recently received and drop them into designated ‘Scamnesty’ bins or boxes at local libraries and other public areas across the country. The bins can be found at Brent House One Stop Shop and Harrow Civic Centre, as well as libraries at Brent Town Hall, Willesden Green, Ealing Road, Gayton, Roxeth and Pinner. Consumers can also drop them in to Trading Standards directly, at Quality House in Willesden Green. Every year an estimated three million people fall victim to mass marketed scams such as bogus lotteries, deceptive prize draws and sweepstakes, fake psychics and miracle health cures. Many of these scams are sent by post, as well as by email or over the phone, and cause particular harm to the elderly and vulnerable. Bill Billon, Head of Brent and Harrow Trading Standards, said: NOTE 1. Scams Awareness Month is part of an annual international initiative organised by the International Consumer Protection and Enforcement Network. 2. The OFT, in partnership with nearly 50 local authorities, previously ran a successful Scamnesty campaign in February 2008. 3. If you think you have been the victim of a scam, or you suspect a scam, call Consumer Direct for clear, practical consumer advice on 08454 04 05 06 or www.consumerdirect.gov.uk. Watch out, there are scammers aboutBrent and Harrow Trading Standards are warning the public to be on their guard against scams after receiving a number of complaints from local residents. In one case, a Barnhill resident was surprised to receive a letter telling her that she had won money in the Spanish Lottery. The letter asked for lots of personal and financial information in order to process the claim. Having not entered any Spanish lottery, the resident realised it was a scam and didn’t respond. Another resident was called at home by someone stating they were from the NSPCC, who asked her to make a donation and provide her bank details. Suspicions aroused, they hung up. Trading Standards checked with the NSPCC and in this case, the call was in fact a genuine one. Brent and Harrow Trading Standards Service advise against giving out any financial details unless you are absolutely sure who you are speaking to. Advice from the NSPCC is that if you get a call from someone saying they’re from a charity asking for a donation and you’re not sure that they are genuine, ask them to send you the information in the post. You can also check by calling the charity back using a recognised phone number from the phonebook or internet. Bill Bilon, Director of Brent and Harrow Trading Standards Service said, "It is easy to fall victim to this sort of scam. "But if you do get one of these letters, ask yourself how you could win a prize if you have not bought a ticket? "It is very important that none of us reveal credit card or bank account details unless we are absolutely sure who we are dealing with. "There is a lot of truth in the old saying 'if it sounds too good to be true, it probably is'." NOTES• For more details on this press release please contact Simon Martin on 020 8937 5533 or Richard Lewis on 020 8937 5513 • For more details on how to spot a scam visit the Consumer Direct website – http://www.consumerdirect.gov.uk/watch_out/scams/ • Brent and Harrow Trading Standards will be taking part in the OFT run Scamnesty campaign from 2-15 February 2009 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 020 8937 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 020 8937 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, |
