Law enforcers from around the country will be putting their heads together in Warwick this week to discuss ways of cracking a £4 billion counterfeiting problem.

That’s the estimated cost to UK economy each year of dodgy goods being made and sold.

Warwickshire County Council's Trading Standards Service will host the Anti-Counterfeiting Group Law Enforcement Roadshow at Shire Hall in Warwick on Friday.

The Roadshow will provide an opportunity for Trading Standards officers, the police, customs and excise and industry representatives to meet and forge closer working relationships in the fight against counterfeiting.

Noel Hunter, Director of Warwickshire Trading Standards said:

"We treat counterfeiting very seriously in Warwickshire and we welcome this opportunity to host this important gathering of law enforcers."

John Anderson, Executive Secretary of the ACG added:

"We are delighted to be able to cement the relationship between Warwickshire County Council's Trading Standards Service and the ACG by holding the roadshow in Warwick.

“We hope to be able to demonstrate the growing co-operation between law enforcement bodies and industry in the fight against counterfeiting."

The Anti-counterfeiting Group estimates that product counterfeiting costs the UK economy between £2 and 4 billion each year with possibly £750 million lost in tax and excise

The costs of all fakes (products, film, music and software) has been estimated by the Alliance against Counterfeiting and Piracy at over £6 billion.  

Losses to specific industries include clothing and footwear £727m, perfumes and cosmetics £289m, toys and sports equipment £358m, pharmaceuticals £149m, videos £120m, and software £290m.

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