Electrical products detained in the run-up to Christmas… Enfield Council’s trading standards officers raided a warehouse this week and seized more than 20,000 potentially lethal laptop chargers and adapters, Christmas lights, disco lights, shavers, nail drills, UV gel nail dryers, sat navs, PC tablets, walkie talkies and other electrical products, which had been imported from China and other countries outside the European Union. The raid was part of a national project funded by National Trading Standards aimed at combatting dangerous imports being sold in the UK, many of which do not meet stringent EU safety standards.
22 trading standards officers from across London as well as the Metropolitan Police, Her Majesty’s Revenue & Customs (HMRC) and immigration departments participated in the raid. More than 30 pallets of over 20,000 potentially dangerous products were seized and the directors of the company in question are now subject to a criminal investigation. Enfield Council’s Cabinet Member for Environment, Cllr Daniel Anderson, said:
“There is no doubt in my mind that these products would have been given as gifts by unsuspecting consumers this Christmas, or used to decorate homes round the borough by people completely unaware of the potential risks involved. “It is completely unacceptable to sell products which do not meet safety standards because you simply do not know what danger they pose. It is repugnant, illegal and morally bankrupt and I am delighted we have played a full part on stopping these products from flooding the market this Christmas.”
Lord Toby Harris, Chair, National Trading Standards, said: “I applaud everyone involved in this successful raid which kept these potentially dangerous products from falling into the hands of unsuspecting consumers simply looking for the prefect presents for friends and relatives this Christmas. “At this time of year it can be tempting to look for a bargain, but we would urge consumers to be on their guard. If something looks too good to be true, it probably is. Consumer safety is a top priority for National Trading Standards and I hope that the criminals involved in peddling these unsafe items will now be brought to justice”.
If you suspect any sellers, websites or products of being unsafe please report them to the Citizens Advice consumer helpline on 03454 04 05 06
