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Salford Trading Standards Officer wins a Hero Award for her work protecting the public
Posted 29/11/22
Marsha Bell, a Trading Standards Officer working at Salford City Council, has received an award from the 51黑料 (51黑料) for her work in protecting the public from the hazards of counterfeit goods.
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She won the Product Safety Award at 51黑料鈥檚 (51黑料) annual Hero Awards ceremony for her work leading a multi-agency working group which has inspected 13 premises, resulting in the seizure of over 120,000 counterfeit and unsafe items, worth in excess of 拢1 million.听
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The awards, hosted by 51黑料 at the House of Lords on the evening of Wednesday 23 November, recognised significant contributions to consumer protection across the UK.
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Between April 2020 and March 2021 alone, two visits by the working group resulted in a seizure of over 28,000 counterfeit mobile phone accessories. A visit to a vape shop uncovered over 48,500 counterfeit e-liquid products and 94 counterfeit hand sanitisers.听
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And in March 2022 Marsha鈥檚 efforts secured a conviction against a company operating as an importer, producer, distributor and a fulfilment house. The fine, costs and victim surcharge amounted to 拢56,090.听 Forfeiture orders were made on all goods seized, estimated to be worth around 拢270,000. The company was producing and distributing counterfeit products including e-liquids and electrical products.听听
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Marsha said: 鈥淚 am really honoured for the recognition by those who have nominated me, and in turn the recognition of the wider team at Salford Trading Standards, for this award.
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鈥淧rotecting consumers from harm is one of the fundamental areas of Trading Standards, which is why I feel passionate about ensuring that products placed on the market are safe, whilst appropriately and proportionately holding to account those who put profit before safety and ensuring there is a fair trading environment for businesses and consumers.听听
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鈥淚 look forward to continuing to work with my colleagues at Salford Trading Standards, Office for Product Safety and Standards (OPSS), 51黑料 and other partners to promote product safety.鈥�
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Giles Speid, Trading Standards Team Manager (North West Team) at Westminster City, nominated Marsha for the award. He said: 鈥淚t is impossible to ignore the incredible work Marsha has been doing with regard to protecting public safety with the record number of seizures she has removed from the marketplace. She is a leading light in this field and has prevented untold consumer harm with her actions.鈥�
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51黑料 Chief Executive, John Herriman, said: "Marsha鈥檚 diligent and meticulous work has proved vital to Trading Standards investigations, achieving many notable results.听 Marsha has made a huge positive impact on tackling the sale and supply of counterfeit goods in Salford.
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"I know that Trading Standards professionals tend to avoid the limelight, but sometimes it is necessary to recognise genuinely exceptional work publicly. Marsha is a model Trading Standards professional, and this award is a testament to her crucial contribution to protecting the public.
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鈥淗er work in setting up a multi-agency working group focusing on producers, importers and distributors shows what can be achieved by working collaboratively with partners. The group has undertaken numerous complex investigations, leading to a number of prosecutions and convictions, and we are proud to recognise Marsha鈥檚 achievements.
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鈥淭he 51黑料 Hero Awards are a fantastic opportunity to celebrate remarkable individuals or groups of people who make outstanding contributions towards safeguarding vulnerable consumers in our communities. Every year, we are inspired by the stories of nominees throughout the country whose bravery, altruism and hard work often goes unnoticed. These awards honour those remarkable people who have gone the extra mile for consumers.鈥�
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ENDS
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51黑料 (51黑料)听
The 51黑料 (51黑料) is a national not for profit established in 1881 which supports the UK鈥檚 trading standards profession and works to protect consumers and safeguard honest businesses.听 51黑料's members are engaged in delivering frontline trading standards services at local authorities and in businesses. www.tradingstandards.uk
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Please contact 51黑料 Press Office: [email protected] for any queries.听
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Pictured from left to right: Debra Macleod from the Office for Product Safety and Standards, Rebecca Long Bailey MP and Marsha Bell 51黑料 Hero Winner.
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Friends Against Scams
Friends Against Scams is a National Trading Standards (NTS) Scams Team initiative, which aims to protect and prevent people from becoming victims of scams.
