At the recent CTSI National Conference in Telford, the National Markets Group (NMG) announced the winners of their 2016 awards which recognise the significant impact that the recipients have made in tackling counterfeiting and piracy at markets, car boot sales and on social media.
The recipients of the awards were:
Team award
Winner: Rhondda Cynon Taf Trading Standards, Community Protection and Enforcement Team
Individual awards
Winners: Lesley Jenkins, Walsall Trading Standards and Ceri Martin, Wrexham Trading Standards
Certificate of excellence in Anti-Counterfeiting Enforcement
Lincolnshire Trading Standards
For more details on the awards . . .
Team award
Winner: Rhondda Cynon Taf Trading Standards, Community Protection and Enforcement Team
This award is in recognition of the team’s dedication and professionalism on Operation JASPER 2. Their hard work and effort in executing numerous warrants against identified traders and seizing large amounts of counterfeit products helped to undermine the sale of fake goods on Facebook.
Individual awards
Winner: Lesley Jenkins, Walsall Trading Standards
As a lone voice, tackling IP crime at Bescot Market, Lesley managed to influence the landowner and market operator to sign a code of conduct along the lines of the Real Deal and coordinated a series of raids which has led to a significant reduction in the availability of counterfeit goods at the market.
Winner: Ceri Martin, Wrexham Trading Standards
Despite limited resource, Ceri successfully persuaded managers to implement the Real Deal code of conduct at all markets operating in North Wales. This remarkable achievement has ensured the market place is now a safe and equitable place for both consumers and legitimate businesses.
Certificate of excellence in Anti-Counterfeiting Enforcement
Lincolnshire Trading Standards
Led by Emma Beckett, the team at Lincolnshire Trading Standards has worked tirelessly to tackle the sale of counterfeit and pirated goods at Eastgate Market in Skegness. After some significant raid activity the team has now implemented an effective self-regulation code of conduct with the market operator.
“This year’s NMG awards highlight the tremendous work being carried out by Trading Standards departments across the UK to ensure that consumers and legitimate businesses alike are protected from the illegal trade in fake goods” explained Graham Mogg, Chair of the National Markets Group and Intelligence Co-ordinator for the Anti-Counterfeiting Group (ACG).