Salisbury shoppers get the real deal

Tuesday 27 March 2012 Wiltshire Council and Salisbury City Council have joined forces to help consumers get the ‘real deal’ when they shop at the city’s twice weekly market.

Salisbury City Council is the latest market operator in Wiltshire to sign up to the Real Deal national markets charter to keep markets and car boot fairs free from counterfeit and other illicit goods. Wiltshire Council signed up to the charter in November last year and there are now 13 Real Deal markets in the county.

The charter was officially signed at Salisbury Market on Tuesday 27 March 2012.

Wiltshire Council’s cabinet member for public protection, Keith Humphries, said: “The sale of counterfeit goods takes away vital trade from our many legitimate traders. This campaign will give confidence to local residents and visitors alike.

“By working together with the operators, local traders and the public we can help stamp out any possible trade in fake goods. Cheap imitations are always of inferior quality and in some instances the goods themselves can be dangerous.”

By signing up to the charter, the Tuesday and Saturday markets will display the Real Deal logo.

Steve Clover, the council’s head of consumer protection, added: “The Real Deal campaign will really help us to reduce the sale of counterfeit goods”.

“It sends a message to those people considering trading in fake goods that it will not be tolerated in Wiltshire. Our trading standards officers already work with market officers and this demonstrates our ongoing commitment in ensuring safe, fair and legal markets across the county and protecting shoppers from counterfeit goods”

Shoppers are encouraged to report any concerns they may have regarding the sale of fake products. To report the sale of counterfeit goods people should contact Consumer Direct on 08454 040 506. People can also anonymously report counterfeiting or other illegal activity by contacting Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111