Fake goods seized from Stow Horse Fair (From Wilts and Gloucestershire Standard)

Fake goods seized from Stow Horse Fair

12:00pm Thursday 1st November 2012 in Cotswolds news By Ian Craig

MORE than 300 counterfeit items, along with almost £3,400 in cash, were seized at last week’s Stow Horse Fair.

Gloucestershire County Council’s trading standards officers worked with police at the fair following concerns about the sale of fake branded goods at the twice-yearly event.

As well as seizing £3,390 in cash which is suspected to be proceeds of crime, officers took possession of:

56 pairs of Nike trainers.
17 Louis Vuitton bags.
50 Louis Vuitton scarves.
16 Dior bags.
30 Gucci scarves.
38 Chanel bags.
20 Chanel scarves.
80 Bulgari sunglasses.

Animal health officers were also on hand to make sure all horses at the fair were in good health and had required passports.

GCC trading standards head Eddie Coventry said the fair had developed a sizeable market in recent years and the organisation was keen to make sure all stallholders were complying with the law.

“The value of the items we have seized is substantial and represents a potential significant loss to traders offering the genuine items for sale,” he said.

The operation was a follow-up to an investigation at May’s fair, where a number of fake goods were seized.

GCC cabinet member for communities Cllr Will Windsor-Clive (Con, Newent) described it as: “Another successful operation into an illegal industry that damages reputable businesses in the county”.

“Success relies on the information given to us by the public and our partners, so I would encourage people to continue to contact us with their concerns,” he added.

RSPCA officers said there were no significant animal welfare problems.

Anyone with information regarding the supply of counterfeit goods can contact Trading Standards through the website tradingstandards.gov.uk/glos or through Citizens Advice Consumer Service on 08454 04 05 06.