New UK anti-counterfeiting campaign
The first in a series of regional crackdowns on product counterfeiting and piracy gets under way in the UK today.
The campaign is being orchestrated by Crimestoppers Trust, theAnti-Counterfeiting Group and local Trading Standards Departments, with support from Nike, The Pentland Group, Tommy Hilfiger, Timberland, ELSPA, Rolex and De La Rue plc.
Crimestoppers has chosen to launch the Midlands campaign in Leicester due to the city's identification two years ago as the 'Counterfeit Capital of Europe'. Since that time, Trading Standards and business leaders have been successful in reducing levels of product counterfeiting in the city. But now they are hoping to turn up the heat by encouraging members of the public to call the Crimestoppers anonymous telephone number with local information on the manufacture or distribution of counterfeit goods.
In the Midlands region, the Anti-Counterfeiting Group estimates that £1 billion and 500 jobs per annum, are lost from legitimate employers due to competition from illegal counterfeiters, with one of the hardest hit sectors being the sportswear industry. Reflecting this, the event is being launched at Leicester City Football Club with the endorsement of the ex-Leicester City and England footballer, Gary Lineker.
According to national statistics by the UK National Criminal Intelligence Service (NCIS), 60% of organised crime groups involved in counterfeiting and piracy are also involved in drug trafficking
