Drive to curb fake goods launched

Andrew Miller and Lavinia Carey: Fakes put lives at risk

Car brake pads made of compressed grass are one example of fake goods putting lives in danger, according to a Labour MP.

Andrew Miller showed how a children's T-shirt could be engulfed in flames within seconds as he unveiled new proposals to crack down on the Delboys and Rodneys of the market place.

These are counterfeit goods which are putting your children's lives at risk

Andrew Miller MP

"These are counterfeit goods which are putting your children's lives at risk," the MP for Ellesmere Port and Neston told a news conference in Westminster.

His private members' bill would mean counterfeiters - who cost British industry an estimated £8 billion a year in lost sales - would face up to 10 years in prison.

Mr Miller said the problem affected household names in goods such as music, computer software, alcohol and medicines.

'Fake vodka'

Among the catalogue of recent cases he listed were bottles of fake vodka seized in West Yorkshire which could cause blindness.

In Scotland in 1998, trading standards officers impounded £15 million of fake car parts, including brake shoes made of compressed grass.

Up in flames: Miller shows the dangers of a fake T-shirt

The MP urged the public to join the battle against counterfeiters and pirates, who were part of organised crime.

"I say to members of the public, who have got crime high up the list in their agenda, they can help parliament and the police by not falling for the sales flannel from some of these organisations because quite simply you are funding crime."

The European Leisure and Software Publishers Association has found in 80% of its raids that other crimes, from drug running to prostitution, are involved in counterfeiting operations.

Mr Miller's private members' bill will have its second reading in the House of Commons on 9 March.

It will propose raising the penalties for copyright theft to 10 years in jail to match trademark law, and stronger search warrant provisions to make exposing counterfeits easier.

Fake goods seized

Perfume with urine as a stabiliser

Pirated children's videos copied over porn films

Fake medical tubing

Tea bags containing metal filings and rat droppings

The bill also gives greater powers to allow rights owners to have offending material forfeited.

Mr Miller hoped the plans would not fall foul of parliamentary procedures used to wreck private members' bills but he admitted an early election would minimise its chances of becoming law.

He was confident, however, the Government was committed to changes.

Bill welcomed

Consumer Affairs Minister Kim Howells has welcomed the bill, saying: "We have been working hard over the last couple of years to raise the profile of this serious crime in the public's eye because it does affect us all.

"It is right that some improvement and rationalisation should now take place."

Lavinia Carey, chairwoman of the Alliance Against Counterfeiting and Piracy, also backed the bill.

She said: "Counterfeiting and piracy is a serious issue. It costs British industry over £8 billion each year with a subsequent loss to the Treasury of over £1 billion.

"These people wait for others to invest time and money in a product and then steal the idea or make illegal copies, just as if they were stealing the product itself."