Trading Standards Case Studies

Stephen Meale (Trading Standards Manager) stated:
There is a clear national priority for Trading Standards to target criminal activity which impacts upon vulnerable consumers and legitimate businesses. With the improved ability to be truly intelligence-led, engage with partner law enforcement agencies and the opportunity to use Assets Recovery to take the profit out of unfair trading and consumer fraud, we need a case management system capable of handling all these needs. We are pleased to be working in partnership with BOM Group Ltd to adopt and adapt the Clue suite of products to meet the needs of a modern Trading Standards service.

Trading Standards Officers conducted an investigation into KJM Superbikes in Bristol as a result of a complaint from a local resident. It was alleged that a motorcycle supplied by KJM Superbikes was counterfeit. The bike turned out to be a Chinese copy of a Yamaha virago. The investigation uncovered that the bike was in a consignment of over 200 motorbikes entering the UK.

As a result of the detailed investigation KJM Superbikes pleaded guilty before Bristol Magistrates Court to offences under the Trades Descriptions Act and the Trade Marks Act. Financial Investigators assisted the investigation by using powers under the Proceeds of Crime Act to demonstrate to the court the full extent of KJM’s criminality leading to a confiscation order being granted to the value of £174,513. The Court also imposed a fine of £3,000 plus £2,000 compensation to the customer.