§ Mr. TynanTo ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, what measures are in place to raise public awareness concerning the dangers of counterfeit goods. [74021]
§ Jane KennedyIn Northern Ireland we are trying to tackle and confront the trade of counterfeit goods through the co-ordinated efforts of the Organised Task Force which I chair.
One of the main objectives of the Task Force is to raise public awareness concerning the dangers of counterfeit goods. I am keen to highlight the menace of organised crime to the public, which is why I am undertaking to host regional awareness evenings, on the threat from organised crime and the dangers from counterfeit goods. The next awareness evening will take place on the 28 of October.
On 23 September the OCTF launched its web-site, which provides a further two way communication between it and the public. This is an important development, which will open a "shop window- for the task force. In addition it is a dynamic medium that will 369W permit the Task Force to communicate its message and should both educate people and enhance information gathering.
The Publicity Sub-Group which forms an integral part of the OCTF looks for every opportunity to highlight to the public the Task Force's three key messages:
Organised crime is dangerous; never victimless; and we need everyone's support to tackle organised crime.PSNI and Customs & Excise are doing excellent work, every week to tackle the trade in counterfeit goods. There have been some tremendous operational successes this year. On 28 June police found counterfeit clothing worth hundreds of thousands of pounds in Belfast. This is reported to be the biggest seizure ever found in Northern Ireland. Also at the Aul Lammas Fair in August 300k of counterfeit goods were confiscated following a request from the public to the Police Service of Northern Ireland for action.