Salford City Council’s Project Gulf team has won a national award for seizing more than £600,000 of counterfeit and unsafe goods from the streets. The Gulf team was commended by Anti Counterfeiting Group judges at the Reebok Stadium.
Salford City Council trading standards officers, working with Greater Manchester Police, has taken more than 30,000 items off the streets, seeking to disrupt the design, manufacture and supply of illegal goods in the city. And more than 500 bottles of counterfeit vodka and wine has been removed from licensed premises.
Police raids at a market saw one man sentenced to 26 weeks in prison for selling pirate copies of DVDs and CDs as well as fake perfume and clothing. Other offenders received suspended sentences and community orders.
Councillor David Lancaster, Deputy Mayor at Salford City Council, said: “It is a real honour to accept this prestigious award which recognises trading standards’ dedicated work to ensure that people are protected from fake and dangerous goods. Drinking counterfeit alcohol can lead to serious health problems so it’s crucial that it is removed from supply before people get to drink it.”
Detective Inspector Joe Clarke, from Greater Manchester Police’s Salford Division, said: “This award recognises the work of the Gulf team who work tirelessly to investigate each aspect of a criminal’s life. We know that since the team was established we have been able to strike a major blow to the counterfeit trade.
“The counterfeit goods market is not a victimless crime and such offences threaten the livelihood of any law abiding citizen. We want this work to send a clear message to those dealing or thinking of dealing in fake items, that illegal trading will simply not be tolerated.”
Project Gulf works to tackle serious and organised crime in Salford and involves the police working with the council, Serious and Organised Crime Agency and other partners to tackle all areas of organised crime in the city.
