NMG award winners are announced

PRESS RELEASE – Tuesday 28 June 2016

NMG award winners are announced

The National Markets Group (NMG) announced the winners of their 2016 awards at the CTSI Conference in Telford last week. The awards recognise the significant impact that the recipients have made in tackling counterfeiting and piracy at markets, car boot sales and on social media.

“This year’s NMG awards highlight the tremendous work being carried out by Trading Standards departments across the UK to ensure that consumers and legitimate businesses alike are protected from the illegal trade in fake goods” explained Graham Mogg, Chair of the National Markets Group and Intelligence Co-ordinator for the Anti-Counterfeiting Group (ACG)

The NMG Award winners are:

Team award
Winner: Rhondda Cynon Taf Trading Standards, Community Protection and Enforcement Team

This award is in recognition of the team’s dedication and professionalism on Operation JASPER 2. Their hard work and effort in executing numerous warrants against identified traders and seizing large amounts of counterfeit products helped to undermine the sale of fake goods on Facebook.

Individual awards
Winner: Lesley Jenkins, Walsall Trading Standards

As a lone voice, tackling IP crime at Bescot Market, Lesley managed to influence the landowner and market operator to sign a code of conduct along the lines of the Real Deal and coordinated a series of raids which has led to a significant reduction in the availability of counterfeit goods at the market.

Winner: Ceri Martin, Wrexham Trading Standards

Despite limited resource, Ceri successfully persuaded managers to implement the Real Deal code of conduct at all markets operating in North Wales. This remarkable achievement has ensured the market place is now a safe and equitable place for both consumers and legitimate businesses.

Certificate of excellence in Anti-Counterfeiting Enforcement
Lincolnshire Trading Standards

Led by Emma Beckett, the team at Lincolnshire Trading Standards has worked tirelessly to tackle the sale of counterfeit and pirated goods at Eastgate Market in Skegness. After some significant raid activity the team has now implemented an effective self-regulation code of conduct with the market operator.

Ends

If you require further information please contact Graham Mogg, Chair of the National Markets Group  

T: 02920 202597
E: graham.mogg@a-cg.com   

Notes to Editors:

1. The National Markets Group was established in 2008 to provide a forum for a national, coordinated, cross-sector approach to tackle the trade in counterfeit goods at markets and car boot fairs. http://www.realdealmarkets.co.uk/about/101-2/
2. The Anti-Counterfeiting Group (ACG) represents the voice of business in shaping an effective deterrent to counterfeiting in the UK. ACG help to steer effective policy, promote evidenced based actions, empower multi-agency partnerships and strengthen international collaboration.  http://www.a-cg.org/
3. Operation Jasper was launched in May 2015 and is coordinated by the National Trading Standards eCrime Team and the NMG. The operation has resulted in the takedown or de-listing of almost 8,000 Facebook profiles, executed 42 warrants and initiated 63 separate ongoing investigations. http://www.tradingstandardsecrime.org.uk/crack-down-on-counterfeiting-and-piracy-on-social-media/ 
4. The Real Deal campaign is a cross-sector, partnership initiative, bringing together local authority trading standards services, market operators and traders, industry groups, and copyright and trademark owners, all of whom are united with a common commitment to tackling this problem. http://www.realdealmarkets.co.uk/about/about-real-deal/