OLDHAM COUNCIL SIGNS UP TO NATIONAL MARKETS CHARTER

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Pictured at the launch of the Real Deal in Oldham are (left to right): Samantha Fahmy Senior Market Officer; Kevin Welch (Principal Trading Standards Officer for Oldham Trading Standards; and market trader Linda Rogers of Hyde's Newsagents.

Pictured at the launch of the Real Deal in Oldham are (left to right): Samantha Fahmy Senior Market Officer; Kevin Welch (Principal Trading Standards Officer for Oldham Trading Standards; and market trader Linda Rogers of Hyde’s Newsagents.

Oldham Council is the latest local authority to sign up to the Real Deal campaign, demonstrating its commitment to cracking down on counterfeiting and improving quality in the Borough’s markets. The council launched the Real Deal scheme on 1 December 2011 with a special display in its market hall providing information for shoppers and market traders.

The Real Deal campaign aims to bring market traders, local authorities and other organisations together to work towards preventing counterfeit and illegal goods finding their way into markets and car boot sales.

In Oldham the Market Hall, outdoor markets in Oldham, Royton and Shaw and the Oldham RUFC car boot site are all committed to the scheme and have signed up to the Real Deal National Markets’ Charter which commits the markets to tackling counterfeit goods.

Councillor Dave Hibbert, Cabinet Member for Housing, Transport and Regeneration said:

“By signing up to this campaign, Oldham Council is making clear that it will do what it can to ensure markets in the Borough offer a wide range of good quality and competitively priced original goods. Counterfeit merchandise can look like a bargain, but can have serious consequences.

“Counterfeit alcohol can cause blindness or other serious illness, fake cigarettes may contain far more tar and nicotine than genuine brands and counterfeit electrical goods are not necessarily subject to safety checks and can cause fires or the danger of electrocution.

“Counterfeiting damages legitimate businesses and funds other criminal activities. By signing up to this charter we aim to ensure fake-free markets across the Borough for the benefit of both residents and legitimate traders.”

If you come across any goods you believe are counterfeit then please call Consumer Direct on 08454 04 05 06 or Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.