Spitalfields Traders Market signed up to the Real Deal national charter on Wednesday 13 November reconfirming their commitment to safe and fair trading. Continue reading →

On 23 October 2013, FACT (the Federation Against Copyright Theft) presented special commendation awards to Manchester City Council’s Market Manager, Tony Sproston, and Trading Standards Officer, Nicola Bray. The awards were made in recognition of exemplary standards in tackling intellectual property crime.

In November 2009, Manchester City Council was the first local authority in the UK to introduce the Real Deal Charter at all the city’s council-run markets and it is now part of the city’s licence agreement for all new market applications.

Heather Thurlaway, Operations Manager Markets, and David Ellerington, Trading Standards Team Manager, celebrate the Charter signing with a large Real Deal cake, specially baked for the occasion by The French Oven and cupcakes by Pet Lamb Patisserie ˆ both are stalls in the Grainger Market.

The risks posed to consumers by counterfeit goods are always more prevalent at Christmas when people step out in search of a bargain. But consumers can be left seriously out of pocket when it turns out that the gift they have bought is either fake, does not work, or in some cases a danger to their health. But at Newcastle’s Grainger Market that risk has been eliminated after it was officially declared a fake goods free zone. Continue reading →

Pictured signing the Real Deal charter are (left) Market Place chief executive, Nick Rhodes, and Simon Legg of Brent and Harrow Trading Standards service

Brent & Harrow Trading Standards has entered an innovative partnership with Market Place (Wembley Park) Ltd, by signing the Real Deal charter to ensure the new programme of markets planned at Wembley Park operate to the highest standards and are free from fake goods.

By signing up to Real Deal, Market Place has committed itself to working with the Trading Standards Service to comply with the scheme to ensure consumers shopping at any of their markets or events do so with the confidence that they will only be buying genuine goods. Continue reading →

The organisers of Croft Car Boot Sale have signed up to a partnership with Leicestershire County Council’s Trading Standards Service to keep their event free from fake goods. The partnership is part of the national “Real Deal” campaign aimed at keeping sellers of fake goods away from markets and car boot sales. Continue reading →

Mansfield District Council has teamed up with Nottinghamshire County Council Trading Standards Service to sign up to a national campaign which aims to tackle the problem of counterfeit goods sold on markets.

The District Council is applying to join the Real Deal scheme through the County Council. The Real Deal campaign is a nationwide cross sector, partnership initiative, bringing together Trading Standards services, market operators and traders, industry groups, and copyright and trademark owners, all of whom are united with a common commitment to tackling the problem of a small minority of illicit traders selling illegal products on markets.

Illegal goods which are not welcome on the markets in Mansfield include stolen goods, counterfeit goods, unsafe goods, tobacco products (duty unpaid), alcoholic goods, offensive weapons, fireworks and items of a pornographic nature.

Both Councils are committed to ensuring that both consumers and traders visiting the markets in Mansfield can be confident that the goods they buy are legitimate, safe and as described.

Across the country, local authority Trading Standards services and many market operators are working hard to ensure local markets and car boot sales are safe and fair environments in which to trade and to shop. The nature of the traders who deal in illicit goods means that they will often move from one market to another to avoid detection.

The consequences for illicit market traders, who are not welcome on Real Deal markets, can be severe. They can expect to have their goods seized and be subject to an investigation, which can lead to a prosecution report. The penalties for Trademark Act offences can include up to ten years imprisonment and/or an unlimited fine. Illicit market traders can also expect to be removed from the market and have their details shared with other Trading Standards services in the region. They may also decide to have them removed from their Real Deal markets.

When buying goods, shoppers are advised to only buy from reputable suppliers, to keep accurate written records/invoices of your purchases and where necessary seek written assurances that goods bought are legitimate, safe and as described.

Illegal goods supplied with a verbal assurance from an unknown supplier, through cash transactions with no traceability to the supplier, may not be a sufficient defence under both trade mark and safety legislation. In addition, if a member of the public suffers a personal injury or damage to their property and the supplier cannot be traced, the seller may be liable.

Cllr Kate Allsop, Portfolio Holder for Economic Regeneration at Mansfield District Council, said: “Entrepreneurial spirit is alive and well in Mansfield with many successful businesses starting life on a market stall before growing into bigger premises. We are totally committed in actively encouraging quality products to be sold on our markets. Illicit market traders not only have a detrimental effect on the reputation of both the market and legitimate traders, they can impact on the reputation of the brands they sell and their customers by supplying both unsafe and incorrectly described goods.

“While Mansfield Market not only adds vibrancy to the town centre, it plays a vital role in the community, helping to make Mansfield a destination for all – whether shopping, visiting, as a place to live or location to work.”

Councillor Glynn Gilfoyle, Chairman of Nottinghamshire County Council’s Community Safety Committee, said: “We are delighted Mansfield District Council has joined forces with the County Council to stamp out the sale of illicit goods at Mansfield Market.

“Signing up to the Real Deal sends a clear message to traders that we do not tolerate the sale of counterfeit, dangerous, illegal or inappropriate goods on the market.”

If you have concerns that illegal goods are being supplied you can bring it to the attention of Mansfield District Council by calling 01623 463 733 and/or Nottinghamshire County Council Trading Standards on 01623 452 005.

Alternatively you can ring Crime Stoppers anonymously Tel: 0800 555 111.

BE ON YOUR GUARD: Councillor Hazel Chase and Neil Clark, from Trading Standards, with fake goods taken from local car boot sales and markets.

Fake One Direction wristbands and Hello Kitty jewellery have been confiscated from stallholders in North East Lincolnshire. The organisers of a weekly car boot sale are the latest recruits to the Trading Standards Real Deal scheme.

Continue reading →

Trading standards operations manager Keith Regan with Bottesford car boot market owner Mick Emmerson PHOTO: Tim Williams

The organisers of Bottesford car boot sale have signed up to a partnership with Leicestershire County Council’s Trading Standards Service to keep their event free from fake goods.

Continue reading →

Mablethorpe market is the real deal after mayor of the resort, Joyce Taylor signed the national charter, pictured with senior trading standards officer Jasmine Brown.

10 June 2013 Lincolnshire Trading Standards is cracking down on the sale of counterfeit and illegal goods at markets and car boot sales across the county.

25 markets across the county have signed up to the Real Deal, a charter which aims to ensure safe and fair trading, being coordinated by Lincolnshire County Council.
Angela Kane, senior trading standards officer at Lincolnshire County Council, said: “In a bid to make Lincolnshire’s markets fake free, we are encouraging markets to sign up to the Real Deal Market Charter: making a commitment to safe and fair trading at their markets. Continue reading →

Bromley’s historic Charter Market used Love Your Local Market fortnight as a perfect platform to emphasise its commitment to fair, safe trading by signing the Real Deal charter. As part of the Love Your Local Market campaign, reduced price stalls were offered to enterprising young people to allow them to try their hand at running a market business. Continue reading →