Police close Honiton shop closed for selling illegal tobacco
"I'd like to thank members of the local community who reported concerns about the shop to us," he said."This information allowed us to build a detailed intelligence picture, and we were able to take swift action; securing a closure order within just 13 days and preventing further sales of potentially dangerous tobacco and vape products."Police said the closure came after four other shops - Palace Mini Market, Tower Store and Paignton Express in Paignton and American shop in Torquay - were also issued with closure orders for the same length of time.
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The Guardian
4 hours ago
- The Guardian
Australian actor Rebel Wilson sued by production company behind her own film
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BBC News
6 hours ago
- BBC News
Fake Labubu dolls seized in Douglas amid potential danger warning
More than 200 fake and potentially dangerous Labubu dolls have been seized by the Office of Fair Trading on the Isle of stores in Douglas were found to have the dolls, and investigations discovered they were counterfeit and posed a choking hazard to collectible toy from the Pop Mart 'Monsters' series has become hugely popular with children and teenagers in recent years, after launching in 2015.A government spokesman said demand for the dolls had "created an opportunity for imitation products to flood the market, many of which fail to meet essential safety standards, as in this case". "Counterfeit goods often bypass safety and quality checks, infringe intellectual property rights, and undermine legitimate businesses," he of a fake include overly vibrant colours and an incorrect number of teeth, with authentic Labubus having nine. Senior Trading Standards Officer Jennifer Wood said: "Counterfeit toys are not just illegal, they can be dangerous." "These dolls were found to have small parts that could easily detach, posing a serious risk to children." Consumers should be "cautious when buying toys from unfamiliar or unverified sellers", she of the Office of Fair Trading Tim Glover MHK said "protecting our residents, especially children" from unsafe products was "a top priority". He encouraged anyone who suspected a product for sale on the island might be unsafe or counterfeit "to report it immediately".The word Labubu is the name of a character in toy series the Monsters created by Hong Kong-born artist Kasing toys gained worldwide attention in 2024 after a member of popular K-pop band Blackpink had a keychain Labubu attached to her bag. Read more stories from the Isle of Man on the BBC, watch BBC North West Tonight on BBC iPlayer and follow BBC Isle of Man on Facebook and X.
Times
16 hours ago
- Times
Online sellers are peddling fake cosmetics with impunity
For bargain-hunters interested in cosmetics, online marketplaces such as Amazon Marketplace, eBay, TikTok Shop and Vinted appear to offer a fantastic range of competitively priced products. But there's a serious catch: these sites are being used to sell dangerous fake versions of popular products. The latest investigation from Which? found that at least two thirds of products we bought from third-party sellers on online marketplaces were probably counterfeits. Amazon Marketplace, eBay, Tiktok Shop and Vinted all told us that they strictly prohibit the sale of counterfeit products, and have measures in place to detect and deal with them. However, fake beauty products have previously been found to contain dangerous and carcinogenic chemicals, including arsenic, lead and mercury, according to the Anti Counterfeiting Group. It's horrifying to think that shoppers could be applying these substances to their skin. How has this been allowed to happen? Which? thinks the answer is twofold: a consumer enforcement system that is not fit for purpose and a lack of clear responsibilities for marketplaces to ensure the safety of their products. The role of Trading Standards is to enforce laws that protect consumers. However, our recent freedom of information request found that Trading Standards departments are severely overstretched, and many are deprioritising consumer harms such as counterfeiting. These services, based within local authorities, are in the impossible position of enforcing hundreds of consumer protection laws — on the high street and online — without the resources to meet this challenge. Spotting counterfeit cosmetics is by no means straightforward. The sophistication of some counterfeits and the complexity of online marketplaces highlights why Trading Standards need to police them effectively. The UK is finally taking the necessary steps to update the regulatory obligations on online marketplaces. This week, after years of campaigning by Which?, the Product Regulation and Metrology Act gained Royal Assent; paving the way for new rules to tackle the sale of unsafe products. However, new rules are only as good as their enforcement. Without clear consequences, it's difficult to see where the deterrent lies for dodgy sellers. A better functioning enforcement system would deter many counterfeits from being listed, which would help prevent shoppers being exposed to misleading and dangerous products. If the government is serious about tackling crime and supporting responsible businesses, it must get a grip on this. Sue Davies is Which? head of consumer protection policy
