Counterfeit goods seized at street fair
Counterfeit goods worth £100,000 (€148,000) have been seized from one of the North's biggest street carnivals, police said today.
Clothing, sunglasses and football wristbands were among the illegal haul recovered from the Auld Lammas Fair in Ballycastle on the north Antrim coast.
Police said several suspects will be reported to the Public Prosecution Service following the raids.
Officers from the Police Service’s Intellectual Property Crime Unit were involved in the two-day operation.
Industry representatives and local police also identified counterfeit goods and seized them from the stalls which were trading on Bank Holiday Monday.
Police have pledged to crack down on the rogue market. Last year officers seized almost £10m (€14.8m) worth of counterfeit goods in the North.
Chief Inspector Paul Bailie said the Auld Lammas Fair was the largest event within his District Command Unit.
“This event attracts thousands of visitors to Ballycastle over the two days and we work with the local community and traders to ensure it runs as successfully as possible,” he said.
“Our main objectives are to ensure that people are safe and that the law is upheld. To that end we worked with colleagues in the Intellectual Property Crime Unit to identify and seize counterfeit goods at the fair.
“Counterfeiting doesn’t just deprive legitimate owners of profits – it costs ordinary workers their jobs and can pose serious risks to the public in products such as cigarettes, washing powder and perfume.
“We want people who come to the fair to enjoy themselves – within the law. If you see designer goods or popular brand names at suspiciously low prices then the chances are they are either stolen or counterfeit.
“Our simple message is don’t buy them. And if you know anything about such activity, report it to police.”
