Airpods, watch straps, phone cases, cigarettes and nitrous oxide canisters were all seized as police swooped on businesses in an area of Liverpool city centre.
A multi-agency operation involving police, the North West Regional Organised Crime Unit (NWROCU) and Liverpool Council's trading standards team targeted suspected rogue traders in the Whitechapel area of the city.
Whitechapel has been highlighted as a problem area for both the sale of illegal goods and for antisocial behaviour in recent months.
Officers today visited premises in the area and seized a number of Airpods, watch straps, phone cases and screens suspected of being counterfeit were recovered, along with cigarettes and nitrous oxide canisters.
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Community Policing Sergeant Jacqui Keeler said: “We have been working with partners and businesses in the last few months following reports of youths congregating in the area, engaging in anti-social behaviour including drug offences, verbal abuse, violence and criminal damage.
“This activity is just one tactic we are using to tackle crime and anti-social behaviour in this area. We have increased the number of patrols in the area, introduced a number of dispersal zones and have been working with partners including the City Watch team, who operate the city centre’s extensive CCTV network.
“It’s important to recognise that the majority of people who work in and visit this area are not engaging in this type of activity. However, as we have shown today, where we receive reports of criminality we will not hesitate to take action.
“I would like to encourage the public, residents and businesses, to continue to report all incidents to us so we can take swift and necessary action to keep our city centre safe.”
Superintendent Paul Denn from the NWROCU said: “Today’s multi agency enforcement operation was a huge success in our mission to combat the counterfeit goods trade in the North West.
“Whenever we receive intelligence about illegal goods, we work closely with our local police forces and partners including Trading Standards to investigate and take appropriate action. Today we have seized a range of counterfeit goods and our activity should send a clear message to criminals that we will stop at nothing to tackle this issue and it's a priority we will continue to crack down on.
“The counterfeit goods trade isn’t a victimless crime. Often criminals use the profits to fund other organised crime, and with that often comes violence, which can have devastating effects on the local community.”
Partners from Liverpool City Council’s Trading Standards team were also part of the operation, tackling the supply of counterfeit goods from some of the targeted shops.
A spokesperson for Liverpool City Council said: “The supply of counterfeit goods is damaging to legitimate local businesses. Counterfeit goods are usually of an inferior quality to the genuine article and may also be potentially unsafe. Working together with partners in this way means that we are able to take robust action, protecting both consumers and local businesses.”
Anyone with information on anti-social behaviour, criminality or exploitation in their community is asked to contact Merseyside Police social media desk via Twitter @MerPolCC or Facebook Merseyside Police CC. You can also call or contact the independent charity Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.
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