Counterfeit goods worth thousands seized from shops

Counterfeit goods, illegal vapes and tobacco worth an estimated £5,000 have been seized from three shops in Sheffield city centre.

Phone cases, accessories, toys, gadgets and keyrings were among the items removed from the stores by Sheffield City Council's trading standards team, and the council is now taking legal action against the shops.

Mark Rusling, chair of regulation at the council, said: "When you're buying goods that have the brand stated on them, you would assume that they are genuine. We're finding that often they are not.

"Traders who continually break the law and cause harm will be made accountable for their crimes. Illegal traders absolutely need to recognise the harm they cause."

He said the authority's work was particularly focused on protecting the next generation from the harms of tobacco.

A large quantity of illegal vapes and tobacco was seized as part of the operation.

"Everyone, including children and young people, needs to be safe from harm and we are determined to make sure that they are not put at risk wherever possible," he said.

The council said consumers should consider whether logos are clear, if the packaging is neat and tidy, and whether the required markings are present on items before buying.

The Trading Standards team urged tobacco and vape retailers to act responsibly and to comply with the law.

This meant only selling refillable vapes, buying all stock from legitimate sources, keeping receipts and ensuring all items are labelled correctly with the relevant health warnings included in English.

Sheffield City Council said it could not specify which city centre shops were affected due to the ongoing legal proceedings.

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