Counterfeit goods seized from phone shops in Edmonton

The joint operation was carried out in response to concerns about mobile phone theft, particularly in Enfield Town

Counterfeit ‘Apple’ Airpods (credit Enfield Council)

Counterfeit mobile phones and other products have been seized from businesses in Edmonton as part of a joint operation between Enfield Council and the Metropolitan Police.

In their efforts to target criminal activity in the second-hand electronics trade, officers visited 15 second-hand mobile phone shops between on three days last month and ended up seizing counterfeit products with an estimated street value of around £2,000.

The joint operation was carried out in response to concerns about mobile phone theft, particularly in Enfield Town, with an aim to identify stolen devices and disrupt illegal supply chains linked to counterfeit goods.

Officers discovered a quantity of counterfeit products that included AirPods, Apple pencils, USB cables, phone cases and counterfeit Sony PS4 controllers.

The businesses selling these items have not been named, but the council says advice was provided to owners about their responsibilities under the Trade Marks Act 1994, and the importance of ensuring goods offered for sale are genuine and sourced through legitimate and traceable supply chains.

In some cases, the businesses could only provide a name and telephone number of the supplier, as invoices were not provided.

Counterfeit goods such as phone chargers pose serious safety risks, as they do not meet the required safety standards, and can present risks such as overheating, electric shock, or fire. Connections to and wider links between counterfeit goods and organised criminality are not uncommon, so it is not a victimless crime.

Elisa Morreale, the council’s cabinet member for licensing, said: “The sale of counterfeit electronic products is of huge concern due to the potential to harm residents. They often don’t carry a safety mark and haven’t been properly tested to UK standards.

“Initiatives such as Operation Reckoning demonstrate our continued commitment to working in partnership to tackling criminality, protecting residents and consumers from counterfeit and potentially unsafe products, and supporting legitimate thriving businesses.”

Operation Reckoning is a multi-agency initiative aimed at tackling mobile phone theft and disrupting illicit retail networks.

Trading standards officers at the council have now begun an investigation into the wholesalers responsible for supply of counterfeit goods.

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