Scottish Government
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Counterfeit goods and criminality
Links to serious organised crime highlighted.
A new report out today examining public perceptions of serious organised crime in Scotland shows that almost 90 per cent of Scots do not consider trade in counterfeit goods to be associated with organised crime.
This report, commissioned by the Scottish Government, is the first time communities in Scotland have been surveyed.
To coincide with the publication, Justice Secretary Kenny MacAskill will get a briefing by trading standards officers on how this crime, often perceived as victimless, is used to fund significant criminal activity.
The organisation is part of the Anti-Illicit Trade Hub which was established in April 2013 to focus on prevention, intelligence-gathering and enforcement across Scotland.
The Hub, which consists of a number of organisations including the Scottish Government, Police Scotland, HMRC and the Scottish Business Resilience Centre has seen a massive rise in intelligence submitted to Trading Standards Scotland since its formation, averaging 233 per cent over the past five months.
Speaking at the event, Justice Secretary Kenny MacAskill said:
“We know that serious organised criminals in Scotland will be tenacious in exploiting every avenue in human misery to make money from their illegal doings.
“Buying fake designer handbags, watches and sunglasses might be seen as a victimless way to get something desirable on the cheap, but there is no doubt that many of these items have a long back story of criminality, often involving violence.
“By tackling the influx of counterfeit goods, police and other enforcement authorities are removing the means by which serious organised criminals operate, curtailing their criminal activities. The creation of the Anti-Illicit Trade Hub has proved to be an invaluable resource in achieving this, and the breaking down of artificial barriers with the creation of Police Scotland has allowed officers from the Specialist Crime Division to be more agile and intelligent in their criminal detection.
“I am convening a meeting of the Serious Organised Crime Taskforce later today where the research report will be discussed amongst the key agencies and provide members with a vital benchmark of public perception to influence work going forward.”
Colin Baxter, Chair of the Society of Chief Officers of Trading Standards in Scotland added:
“Local Authority Trading Standards Services are acutely aware of the corrosive effect that organised crime can have in their communities, aware too that illicit trade is often a significant funding stream for these groups. Just as the illicit trade evolves to take advantage of emerging technology and business practices, so must our detection and enforcement methods evolve in response.
“Trading Standards Services welcome the opportunity to work ever more closely with our partners within the framework of the Anti-Illicit Trade Hub. We also welcome the improvements in intelligence collection and sharing offered by the new Trading Standards Scotland national team.
“Such intelligence is the lifeblood of enforcement, protecting consumers and legitimate business across Scotland.”
Deputy Chief Constable Iain Livingstone, lead officer for Crime and Operational Support, said: “Combating serious organised crime is a key priority for Police Scotland. Targeting the structures of organised crime, attacking the mechanisms through which criminals make illegal profits and preventing communities being undermined by it is a core function of the Specialist Crime Division.
“Regardless of the commodity, serious organised crime exists to exploit others. Police Scotland will use every tool at its disposal to ensure communities are protected and criminals are brought to justice.
“We will continue to work with our taskforce partners to deny serious organised crime the opportunities they need to gain a foothold. The public play a hugely important part in our efforts and I welcome the survey which provides a solid foundation on which to build our work.”
David Harvie, Director of Serious Casework for the Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service, said:
"The people of Scotland should be aware of the real effects of purchasing counterfeit goods - such behaviour only funds the groups that undermine our communities. While the prosecution service will continue do all in our power to prosecute and recover the profits made by organised criminals, so too should people across Scotland be aware of the ways in which they can assist in cutting off the funding at source."
Notes to editors
Background
A full version of the publication, Public Perceptions of Serious Organised Crime, is available at
