Penkridge market has signed up to a national scheme to fight the fakers as part of its zero tolerance over counterfeit goods.
The market, which is open twice a week, regularly hosts more than 100 stalls and its current managers have worked closely with Staffordshire Trading Standards since they took up the reins in the early 1990s.
But they have reinforced their commitment to ensuring customers are not sold fake goods by signing up to the Real Deal, a new national scheme supported by organisations including Consumer Direct and Crimestoppers.
Last month 37-year-old Irfan Khan of Stratford Road, Hall Green, Birmingham, was ordered to do 120 hours’ community service and pay £250 court costs after admitting selling fake branded clothes at Penkridge Market.
But market bosses moved quickly to ensure he could no longer sell counterfeits at Penkridge, issuing a letter banning him from selling goods at the market the same day trading standards officers caught him doing so.
Market partner Mike Williams said: “We fully co-operated with trading standards and police and we work with trading standards to try to stamp out counterfeits. We don’t want that sort of thing happening on the market and that trader won’t be trading with us again.” Market manager Matt Williams said the incident was a very rare occurrence for Penkridge Market.
He added that signing up to the Real Deal was a strengthening of the work they already do to protect reputable traders and customers from fakers, such as receiving regular visits from trading standards.
“We don’t think there is a problem at Penkridge Market and we haven’t had any problems other than what has been reported,” he said.
“If someone comes selling something dubious we send them away, we don’t let them on the market. And the moment we detect something we don’t think is right we will report.
“With Real Deal we make a commitment to work in partnership with trading standards, know who is trading on the market and endeavor to find any counterfeit goods.
“We already take the names and addresses of traders in fact the only extra thing we are doing after signing up to the scheme is handing out cards to the traders to help customers identify which is which in case they have any concerns.
“Real Deal is an extra layer of security for the customers to know we do not tolerate counterfeit goods. Penkridge Market is a safe market and everyone can buy with confidence.”
