INVESTIGATORS & SECURITY CONSULTANTS

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SURELOCK working with West Yorkshire Trading Standards on behalf of our clients TRAP (Trademark and Rights holders Against Piracy) protecting the music artists

 

Stephen Clarkson, director of Custom Design UK Ltd, was handed an eight-month prison sentence, suspended for two years, at Bradford Crown Court.

Following information received in 2016 from Surelock, which represents numerous trademark holders that Custom Design UK Ltd was selling counterfeit clothing through an eBay account.

West Yorkshire Trading Standards (WYTS) seized, during an inspection in January 2017 of the registered office of Custom Design UK Ltd, items of clothing & heat transfers bearing music and sporting trademarks including US football teams, such as the New England Patriots and Seattle Seahawks.

A computer also seized by WYTS, was found to contain software used to create the heat transfers.

Clarkson pleaded guilty to 14 charges relating to the supply of counterfeit band T-shirts such as The Stone Roses and Metallica.

David Lodge, Head of WYTS said: “We welcome the punishment given to Mr Clarkson as it sends a warning to others that counterfeiting is a serious crime and will not be tolerated.”

https://www.thetelegraphandargus.co.uk/news/16835033.man-who-sold-counterfeit-clothing-on-ebay-avoids-immediate-jail-sentence

https://www.examiner.co.uk/news/west-yorkshire-news/hard-working-family-man-caught-15137252

Leicester Counterfeiter receives 21-month suspended sentence

As a result of thorough investigative work by Surelock dating back to 2015 undertaken on behalf of Trade Mark Holders, Ian Buckley (56), who ran clothing shop Quirk in Leicester city centre was charged with and subsequently admitted 36 offences under the Trade Marks Act.

The 36 offences related to printing and dishonestly selling tens of thousands of items such as T-shirts and hooded tops bearing the names of bands such as Led Zeppelin & Iron Maiden, as well as US sports teams including LA Lakers & Dallas Cowboys.

This represents an estimated loss of hundreds of thousands of pounds to the trademark owners.

Buckley, was given a 21-month suspended jail sentence and ordered to do 200 hours of unpaid work, Judge Adrienne Lucking said that were it not for his wife’s severe ill health and her dependence upon him as her carer, Buckley would have gone to prison.

https://www.leicestermercury.co.uk/news/leicester-news/leicester-shop-quirk-sold-counterfeit-1344910

Do something today

Custodial sentences for selling counterfeit goods

Courts can impose custodial sentences to persons selling counterfeit goods

Time to think before buying counterfeit goods, time to think before selling.

Counterfeits are more than just a cheap version of a genuine more expensive item.  Consider value for money, quality and workmanship rather than looking for a copy without the class.  Counterfeit items may never work properly or safely and can be just plain dangerous, and especially relevant your purchase may fund something more dangerous. Therefore, it is important to think about values. Do something today.

This brings to mind a recent case Surelock were involved in highlighting these values.

Essex Police stopped Meqhawemveko Dube in possession of a firearm.  His home address was searched where goods were discovered including over 100 counterfeit high value watches. Our experts examined watches which purported to be those of our clients and provided statements authenticating them as counterfeits.

Dube received three years custodial sentence at Southend Crown Court in January 2018 for possessing an imitation firearm, and a further nine months sentence relating to the counterfeit goods. Court evidence showed the defendant had been selling similar counterfeit products for about three years.

https://www.essexlive.news/news/thurrock-businessman-wearing-stab-vest-1107922

Who has time for a watch that will tell you the right time for some of the time,  last half the time or no time and in time will stop telling you the time!

It’s all about values – not just the value of the item or the genuine item but values of the purchaser. 

Should plant & construction industry use private investigators?

Why should the plant & construction industry would use private investigators? There are a lot more skills we have other than following a partner in a suspicious relationship! There are so many areas that spring to mind where Surelock  has a wealth of experience in plant & construction industry, in fact it would be fair to say, “we cut our teeth” within this Industry.

No industry is immune from theft and fraud which can strike from the top to the bottom. If there is a suspicion that something is not quite right then it is often a thought worth acting on.

With our consultants throughout the country we cover many fields including criminal investigations; security surveys/risk assessments, audits / stock takes, surveillance and asset recovery. We have been known to recover our client’s property before they have known it was stolen!

We have assisted in the internal audit function of companies by conducting unannounced audit visits to sites and work places (often at weekends or during unsocial hours) to confirm that staff and systems are operating correctly. These audit visits routinely disclose discrepancies ranging from operational or disciplinary shortcomings to criminal activity – sometimes organised and endemic.

Also, we have undertaken contractual management and project management audits within the construction industry which seek to identify and prevent future losses. Each project is unique and undertaken to an individual formula established in relation to the client’s instructions. Our previous investigations have used comprehensive analysis of how substantial losses are likely to have occurred by undertaking a thematic investigation into current processes and procedures in order to establish weaknesses, evaluation of data, conducting investigative interviews with staff with a view to both contractual and criminal irregularities and recommending a strategic plan for dealing with the problems identified in order to prevent future losses.

Oh and we also can follow that partner if required!

Why would Plant and Construction Industry use a firm of Private Investigators
cheating partner surveillance

Another successful court result, as fraudulent trader Terrance Donovan received a total of three years immediate imprisonment for importing and selling thousands of pounds of counterfeit designer merchandise.

Speaking on behalf of Hublot, Jordan Sargent of Surelock Brand Protection Services stated: “Surelock Brand Protections Services represents a large number trademark holders, we will continue to work with trading standards to ensure those trading in counterfeit goods are brought to account.

We applaud the actions of Cambridgeshire and Peterborough Trading Standards regarding this case and their positive stance of clamping down on counterfeit goods. The public should be aware that by purchasing counterfeit goods they are receiving an inferior quality product.”

http://www.elystandard.co.uk/news/fraudulent-trader-terrance-donovan-jailed-peterborough-1-5321361

Couple sold fake Mac make-up and other brands on Facebook

Another successful result, Surelock investigators assisted Trading Standards Officers at Redcar & Cleveland Borough Council with evidence of counterfeit Tiffany & Co. items, found amongst other fake designer brands, at the home of a couple caught after trading standards officers raided their home in February this year.

http://www.gazettelive.co.uk/news/teesside-news/couple-sold-fake-mac-make-14003032

Brand Licensing Europe

Surelock are attending Brand Licensing Europe, London Olympia on 11 October 2017, if you are experiencing problems with counterfeits and need help with brand protection / anti-counterfeit investigations please do not hesitate to make contact.

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