Local MEP thrilled with full house at fakes conference

12.00.00am GMT Mon 22nd Feb 2010

Bill Newton Dunn and Edit Herczog at the recent Counterfeits Conference

Lib Dem Euro-MP for the East Midlands Bill Newton Dunn today hosted a conference hailed by all participants as a huge success.

A number of high-profile speakers addressed a packed conference in the European Parliament on the many dangers of buying and using fake goods. Evidence was given showing that counterfeits are becoming increasingly convincing, and the criminals behind them are finding new ways to flood legitimate, everyday markets with their fake versions. These counterfeits are poor quality and can even cause real harm to children - as graphically explained by Bryan Ellis, from Toy Industries of Europe.

Participants discussed ways to inform consumers and the general public about such dangers, as well as looking at the range of policies that could be pursued in areas ranging from customs to trade to justice - to combat this growing trade.

Newton Dunn, who hosted the conference as a co-founder of the European Parliament Forum for the Combat of Counterfeit, Contraband and Organised Crime said,

"I was astounded by the number and range of participants in today's event. This turnout really showed an issue on which I have been working for many years finally starting to have its day.

"There are so many reasons that we should all be concerned about the growing trade in illicit goods. It means job losses in legitimate industries. It affects people, it affects small businesses.

"It also means more money is going to criminal gangs, operating on our streets, and often with links to organised terrorist cells.

"One overwhelming conclusion coming out of the discussions is that greater cooperation between law enforcement agencies can be very successful in stopping large scale criminal activity in its tracks.

"It's fantastic that so many people from the public and private sectors are coming together at events like today to talk about how to address these issues. I hope our counterfeiting exhibition in the European Parliament in June will show politicians and policy-makers the extent of the problem we face, to keep up this momentum we've achieved."