Liddell and Alexander urge consumers to watch out for fakes this Christmas

04 Dec 2001

Consumers throughout Scotland were urged to watch out for counterfeit goods this Christmas by Scottish Secretary Helen Liddell and Scottish Executive Minister for Enterprise, Transport and Lifelong Learning Wendy Alexander.

The Ministers were speaking to mark the launch by DTI Consumer Minister, Melanie Johnson, of the first Crimestoppers National Campaign against Counterfeiting, which aims to raise people’s awareness of the serious consequences of counterfeiting or intellectual property (IP) crime as well as encouraging the public to report the crime to the free, confidential Crimestoppers ’phone number.

Mrs Liddell said:

"I fully support Melanie Johnson’s determination to highlight the serious impact of counterfeiting on us all. Counterfeiting or IP crime is a serious problem in Scotland as it is in the rest of the UK. With criminal gangs making millions of pounds flooding the market with inferior good, counterfeiting is not a victimless crime. Many of these gangs are also involved in other serious offences such as drug trafficking and the smuggling of illegal immigrants.

"Each year many Scottish consumers are ripped off by unscrupulous criminal gangs who peddle goods of inferior quality. In many cases these goods are also unsafe and expose people to the risk of serious injury and even death.

"The Government is working closely with the Scottish Government and manufacturers to solve the problem of counterfeiting and clamp down on unscrupulous traders but it is crucial that members of the public play their part. I would urge all Scots to avoid buying counterfeit goods and to use the Crimestoppers freephone number 0800 555111 to report any person they suspect of selling counterfeit goods."

Ms Alexander said:

"Everyone has to be aware of the harm counterfeiting inflicts: fake goods can be dangerous, help fund organised crime and cost jobs by putting legitimate retailers out of business.

"Scottish industry estimates the cost of counterfeiting to the economy as an annual loss to industry of £900 million. Brand counterfeiting also results in an estimated loss of 400 jobs in Scotland. We cannot afford a loss like this caused by people who trade in deceit and danger.

"The public must be vigilant and careful and not substitute quality and safety for the sake of a few pence. If customers are properly informed this will help to reduce the demand for fakes and drive the counterfeiters out of business."

NOTES FOR NEWS EDITORS

  1. The Crimestoppers number is 0800 555 111. Callers are not asked to leave their names and could earn a reward.
  2. The campaign was launched by Melanie Johnson, the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI ) Minister for Competition, Consumers and Markets at the DTI Conference Centre in London with speakers from the Crimestoppers Trust, the National Criminal Intelligence Service and the Anti-Counterfeiting Group.
  3. The campaign is being sponsored by the Anti-Counterfeiting Group (representing over 200 UK businesses and brand owners), De La Rue, the European Leisure Software Publishers Association, Nike, the Pentland Group, Timberland, Tommy Hilfiger.
  4. The Government’s intellectual property (IP) portal website includes some useful advice about how to avoid fakes -–see http://www.intellectual-property.gov.uk/std/faq/high_street/avoid_fakes.htm