News

FAKE DESIGNER WEAR SEIZED AT FOLKESTONE MARKET

Large quantities of fake designer footwear and sportswear were seized at the Folkestone market last Sunday (8 October).

Following reports of a surge in the sale of counterfeit goods Trading Standards officers spent several hours at the market checking stock, removing goods and advising traders of their legal obligations. In an associated operation officers seized a van load of counterfeit clothing and footwear including approximately 1,000 pairs of trainers.

Elizabeth Tweed, KCC Lead Member for Trading Standards commented: "Although counterfeiting is a global issue, on a local level it is damaging to legitimate traders and devalues the image of our popular markets. We are committed to tackling the problem and our recent prosecutions have resulted in offenders receiving significant fines".

Brand counterfeiting costs UK companies over £4 billion per year, with the direct loss of over 4,000 jobs. Worst affected are footwear and clothing companies, who lose £727 million every year.

The quality of fake designer clothing and shoes tends to be inferior but surveys show that over 50% of consumers would willingly buy these items.