Berkshire shoppers targeted in crackdown on fake goods

Shoppers are urged to come forward if they have been offered suspected stolen or counterfeit goods as part of a crackdown on rogue traders.

A warning has been issued that fake toys bought over the Christmas period could prove dangerous to children after safety checks were flouted.

Bargain hunters in West Berkshire and Wokingham have been targeted as part of a campaign by trading standards staff.

Thames Valley Police said anyone caught handling stolen goods could be jailed.

Tammie Hambridge, principle trading standards officer at Wokingham Borough Council, said fake goods also undercut local traders.

"Counterfeit goods will not be of the same quality as the genuine item and may in some cases be hazardous as it is likely they will not have gone through any safety checks," she said.

"Fakes are also often produced by unscrupulous criminal gangs so your money could be funding more crime.

"There is also the damage you are doing to genuine local traders if you buy counterfeits."