Latest weapon to fight illegal trading (From Harrow Times)

Latest weapon to fight illegal trading

5:08pm Friday 4th November 2005 in News By James Brockett

Trading Standards officers in Brent and Harrow have been given a new weapon in the fight against illegal street traders, in the shape of handheld portable radios with a direct link to town centre CCTV.

The technology will enable CCTV operators to monitor areas where illegal trading, such as DVD selling, is taking place and help Trading Standards officers to target and prosecute offenders. If the traders try to run off, the cameras can follow them and direct enforcement staff of their movements via the radios.

The money for the scheme has come jointly from the council, the Federation Against Copyright Theft (FACT) and the Industry Trust for IP Awareness.

Jim Angel, operations director for FACT says: "We are pleased to have assisted with the purchase of radio equipment which, I am sure, will make the Enforcement Officer's job easier. Often behind these street sellers are organised gangs operating activities such as people trafficking, drug smuggling, pornography, illegal gambling and racketeering alongside their pirate DVD trade."

Lavinia Carey, director of the Industry Trust for IP Awareness, said: "The highly visible presence of street traders selling pirate DVDs in central Harrow, right outside legitimate retailers, is really quite shocking. If you buy pirate DVDs, you are funding criminal activity in your own community."

John Taylor, director of the Trading Standards Service, added: "The radio communication will provided a much more coordinated response for my officers to target the street traders selling counterfeit goods.

"I am grateful that some of the funding for this scheme has come from FACT and the Industry Trust for IP Awareness.

"It is an example of what can be achieved through partnership working with an anti-piracy organisations and its private industry members".

Councillor Phil O'Dell, Harrow's Portfolio Holder for Transport and Environment said: "We are taking a hard line on dishonest traders and intend to root out those who operate on a fraudulent basis.

"The radios will improve communications and encourage future partnership working pulling the efforts of Trading Standards, the Police and CCTV operators together to make Harrow safer."

Chief Inspector Phil Perry of Harrow Police said: "Existing communications between the town centre police and the CCTV control room are excellent but we welcome this additional link with Trading Standards Offices, which will help us all to combat this illegal activity."