Help us tackle counterfeit goods

Councillor Karen Oliver, Chair of Hartlepool Borough Council’s Neighbourhood Services Committee, is calling on them to assist the authority’s Trading Standards Team in its on-going drive to safeguard public health and protect legitimate businesses.

She said information could be passed on to either the Council or the police.

Councillor Oliver spoke out following a meeting of the Neighbourhood Services Committee where members considered the 2024/25 Trading Standards Service Plan.

She said: “Our Trading Standards Team already does a fantastic job in restricting the supply and sale of counterfeit goods, including illegal tobacco and vapes, but it is a constant battle and any help that local residents can provide is very welcome.

“Sales of counterfeit goods can undermine legitimate businesses, while illegal tobacco products and vapes can also have a seriously detrimental effect on people’s health. The more we can do to prevent their sale, the better.

“It is important that we have a zero tolerance approach to criminal activity and the support of residents is key to that.

“We want our message to be clear – we are not prepared to tolerate the sale of illegal items in Hartlepool, and those who continue to flout the law should be in no doubt about our determination to clampdown on their criminal activities.”

Statistics show that in 2023/24 Trading Standards were involved in removing from the market 303,500 illegal cigarettes and 12.9kg of illegal tobacco with a combined street value of approximately £77,500. Officers also seized 2,122 illegal vapes with a street value of £21,220.

Anyone with information about the sale of Counterfeit goods can email trading.standards@hartlepool.gov.uk or call Cleveland Police on 101.