Label fakes shakedown

- 27 December 2007

Trading standards enforcement officer Sajida Sharif checks out a stall

UP to 10,000 fake designer clothes were seized in a raid on Barking Market last week.

Scores of trendy jeans, tracksuits and jumpers labelled as Armani, Nike and Ralph Lauren, among other famous brands, were confiscated in the undercover operation.

Eagle-eyed trading standards officers pounced on the market stalls with police and street wardens as hundreds of shoppers flooded the East Street market during the Christmas shopping rush.

Just two stalls were found to be selling suspected counterfeit garments with an estimated street value of £150,000.

Among the many items confiscated were Ecko tops, Fred Perry jumpers, Evisu jeans and Stone Island jackets.

"The team seized about 10,000 pieces of clothing with the street value of over £150,000," said a Barking and Dagenham Council spokesman.

"We will now follow the normal lines of investigation, this will involve interviewing the traders and preparing the case for courts."

Barking and Dagenham Police, who assisted trading standards, said they did not carry out arrests in relation to suspected fake goods.

Barking and Dagenham Council added the market stallholders would be interviewed under caution before any action was taken.

The spokesman added: "We hope that this operation sends a clear message to all traders selling counterfeit goods in the market that the council will not tolerate such activities.

"The council's trading standards team will take action to clamp down on illegal trading.

"All those who engage in such practices will face prosecution and a possible investigation into their assets under the Proceeds of Crime Act.