Phoney goods recycled to avoid Christmas woe
Wednesday, December 28, 2011 - 14:21:44
Police in Suffolk recycled over 20,000 bogus Christmas presents last week after seizing them following their import into the UK, to avoid them getting into the hands of unsuspecting consumers.
Many products which do not meet safety or quality standards are imported and sold, but various police authorities across the country are trying to clamp down on these goods.
While the prices may be low for spurious gifts, they can often stop working after a short period of time. However, safety is of far greater concern because risk of electrocution, fire and many other accidents are higher if products have not been properly regulated prior to import.
Amongst the haul recycled by the police were 9,000 mobile phone chargers, 3,000 children's toys and 8,000 novelty cigarette lighters.
People could damage their mobile phones if they purchase a cheap charger from an untrustworthy source and so by recycling these electronic goods and taking them off the market, the police are protecting unsuspecting consumers from turning their valuable handsets into useless slabs.
The recycling was carried out by Suffolk Trading Standards at the Bolton Brother's recycling centre and the potentially harmful products were turned into a multipurpose, confetti-type substance, which can be reused with ease.
Spokesperson, Colin Spence, explained that it was always best for consumers to buy gifts and products from reputable retailers who act responsibly and do not sell goods which could breach regulations. He said that UK shoppers should always avoid cheap products sold by rogue traders because there was no guarantee that the quality or safety of the items would be up to scratch.
When you sell your old mobile phone you will often get to keep your old charger, so investing in a cheap replacement may not always be necessary.
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