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OFFICIAL: NONE Newsletter – Spring 2018

INSIDE

Scottish Illicit Trade Enforcement Subgroup (SITES)

Awareness Raising 2

Film Piracy 4

Illicit Tobacco 3

Member Updates 5

The Scottish Anti-Illicit Trade Group, (SAITG) has a pivotal role in bringing together public and private sectors with a clear focus and strategic aim of reducing the scale, impact and cost of illicit trade throughout Scotland. The purpose of the Enforcement Sub Group is to share information and collectively target criminals involved in illicit trade.

Message from Kenny MacAskill, Chair of the Scottish Anti-Illicit Trade Group It’s a great privilege to take over as Chair of the Group. A remarkable job has been done by my predecessor Frank McCann, as its no easy job bringing together so many groups and individuals and then to give them a clear focus. It was also enlightening to attend my first meeting last month. It’s been a while since I had direct involvement in the area as Justice Secretary and was chairing the Serious and Organised Crime Task Force. Somethings have changed as the threat has deepened and widened since then as I was to learn. Not just alcohol, tobacco and brand names but into the electronic work we all now live in and indeed far beyond. Moreover, the territory has shifted from out of the back of white vans or in market stalls in our towns and cities but onto to the internet and pop up Facebook pages from around the world. But, the challenges still remain the same. Persuading people that it’s not a victimless crime or just some dodging and diving by latter day Robin Hoods, avoiding the tax man or fleecing rich companies. Nor is it just the dangers from faulty products. This affects our economy and all of us as a society. It undermines the businesses our families work in and the shops our neighbours serve in. It undermines our economy and threatens the Scottish brand. It’s also not just a law enforcement issue either. This can’t all be done by the Police and statutory agencies or private companies and trade federations. It requires a far wider effort and by everyone. So it’s a challenge I look forward to and together we can win hearts and change minds.

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OFFICIAL: NONE Scottish Anti-Illicit Trade Group (SAITG)

AWARENESS RAISING Officers from our enforcement partners have been attending at various public events, festivals and conferences to raise awareness of the dangers of illicit goods, highlighting the links between counterfeit products and organised crime groups and those involved in terrorist activities. In November 2017, Police Scotland held a SOC Prevention Course for local authority staff at Summerlee Industrial Museum, Coatbridge to educate about the threats from Serious Organised Crime. The SAITG was represented with a stall for delegates and members of the David Nolan of FDA with Falkirk Inspector public to attend and learn about Ewan Wilson. illicit trade. Members of the SAITG and Police Scotland attended shopping centres across Forth Valley on ‘Black Friday’, highlighting the danger of illicit goods and the signs consumers should look out for to better protect themselves from unwittingly becoming a victim of illicit trade. SATIG stall at Summerlee Museum A festive safety video was produced by North Lanarkshire Council and Police Scotland about counterfeit goods and the signs to look out for over the festive period.

https://www.youtube.com/watch ?v=36N5artfszE SAITG members were led by new SAITG chair, Kenny MacAskill at The Howgate, Falkirk and The Thistles, Stirling

IPO launch social media campaigns highlighting the harm from illicit products

The IPO have launched a number of campaigns over the last few months to highlight some of the harm of illicit products. The successful social media picture cards have also included advice for the public as to what to look out for.

By educating our communities in the dangers of illicit or counterfeit goods we can protect ourselves from potential harm, reduce the demand for these products and help in the fight against Organised Criminal Groups. OFFICIAL: NONE 2

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TOBACCO ENFORCEMENT An operation to disrupt the sale and supply of illegal tobacco in Edinburgh uncovered suspected illicit goods of more than 6,000 cigarettes and eight kilos of hand-rolling tobacco - some of which

TOBACCO MANUFACTURERS ASSOCIATION AWARENESS CAMPAIGN

was hidden inside fruit machines. The TMA continued its Ports campaign targeting passengers travelling to and from abroad warning of the rules relating to importing tobacco. This included Edinburgh and Glasgow airport.

Officers from HM Revenue and

Cheryl Burr, Assistant Director,

Customs (HMRC), with support

Fraud

from

HMRC, said:

Trading

Immigration

Standards,

Enforcement

and

Police Scotland, visited several retail premises in Edinburgh on

Investigation

“The sale of illegal tobacco will not be tolerated by us or our partner

Friday 23rd February 2018.

Service,

agencies.

Disrupting

criminal trade is at the heart of our The visits, as part of HMRC’s

strategy to clampdown on the

Tobacco Taskforce activity, led to

illicit tobacco market, which costs

suspected

the UK around £2.5 billion a year.

products

illegal being

tobacco

seized

from

various premises. This included: 6,640

cigarettes,

with

an

estimated £1,773.86 duty and VAT evaded. 8kg of hand-rolling tobacco,

with

an

estimated

£1,811.08 duty and VAT evaded

This is theft from the taxpayer and undermines legitimate traders. “We

encourage

anyone

with

information about the illegal sale

The campaign was extended in 2017 to target specific routes to and from Eastern Europe. The campaign included mobile trailers focused in and around major cities and airports in Poland. Coaches from Poland to the UK carried on-board materials throughout August and September. The campaign also targeted more than 100,000 Polish Facebook users in the UK. In addition more than 80 letters went to Romanian, Lithuanian and Polish (UK focused) website owners & operators in order to raise awareness and encourage the prevention of illegal tobacco postings via their classified ads.

of tobacco to contact our Fraud Hotline on 0800 788 887.”

Glasgow couple charged in relation to suspected £300k illicit tobacco fraud. HMRC and Police Scotland further showed their collaborative approach to tackle illicit trade in January 2018, after attending an address in Glasgow and recovering approximately 90k cigarettes and 1 tonne of loose tobacco. Cheryl Burr, Assistant Director, Fraud Investigation Service, HMRC said ‘Tobacco fraudsters are costing the UK around £2.5billion a year in lost taxes. This is theft of money which should be going to fund public services and is ending up in the pockets of criminals’. ‘We are disrupting the distribution of illicit tobacco across the UK and levelling the playing field for local businesses who cannot compete with their criminal competitors.

Almost all of these websites including ones in Scotland have taken or are taking action to prevent these postings. Where appropriate the TMA members have followed up with takedown notices. The Eastern Europe campaign received positive media coverage and the TMA will be looking to develop this further in 2018

‘We encourage anyone with information about the illegal sale of tobacco to contact our OFFICIAL: NONE fraud hotline 0800 788 887’.

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MEMBER UPDATES

Vigilant members of staff from cinemas across the UK were formally recognised and rewarded for their work in disrupting and preventing film piracy in an award ceremony in September 2017. The 26 staff members were handed their rewards at a presentation at Universal Pictures UK, London, hosted by the Film Content Protection Agency (FCPA). The FCPA was formed last year by Film Distributors’ Association (FDA) as a specialist unit dedicated to safeguarding theatrical releases in the UK. The recipients included employees from Cineworld, Vue, Showcase, Odeon, Empire and Light Cinemas. Each was presented with a financial reward and a certificate by a special guest host for the event - Mr Peter Dickson aka “Voiceover Man” from “The X Factor”, “Britain’s Got Talent” and “The Price is Right”, who invited each staff member to “come on down” to receive their reward. Collectively the rewards represented 22 incidents, which led to 6 arrests and 5 formal police cautions. The successful efforts of the cinema staff helped to protect UK releases including Fast & Furious 8, Despicable Me 3, Beauty and the Beast, and War for the Planet of the Apes.

Scottish AITG present to Scottish Parliament Group On 24th January 2018, Kenny MacAskill, SAITG, Tony Robertson Higher Officer from HMRC and Andy Law from Police Scotland, jointly presented to the SGF Scottish Parliament Cross Party group on Independent Convenience Stores at Holyrood, covering the topic of illicit trade and its impact on genuine businesses. The scale of illicit trade was described to the audience as well as what the SAITG and law enforcement agencies are doing to tackle the problem and the requirement for information from those within the industry to assist LEA’s.

With 90% of pirated films being sourced directly from cinemas around the world, the FCPA programme supports and safeguards the UK film industry and ultimately the choices available to filmgoers themselves. A key task of the FCPA programme is to develop the awareness of cinema staff, providing them with antipiracy training and other resources. These include an online learning quiz at FDA’s website, launchingfilms.com, which refreshes the detailed knowledge needed to identify and disrupt illegal recording activity. Participating staff members are eligible for a reward of up to £500. Lord Puttnam of Queensgate CBE, President OFFICIAL: of Film NONE 4 Distributors’ Association, said: “The UK is one of the largest film markets in the world, with many films opening here first or

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MEMBER UPDATES

Following information regarding counterfeit dolls, Glasgow Trading Standards seized a quantity of counterfeit L.O.L. Surprise dolls from a local market stall. The genuine L.O.L Surprise dolls are featured in the Dreamtoys list of 2017 produced by the Toy Retailers Association that provides the first clue of Christmas buying habits and predicts the 12 most sought after toys of the season.

Following a referral from Celtic’s Brand Protection Officer WDC seized a large number of cup holders bearing the Trade Marks of Glasgow Celtic FC and Glasgow Rangers FC which were being advertised on online market sites.

Due to other like seizures across the UK and further afield the below information has been produced. If any consumers suspect any dolls or other toys are counterfeit, they should contact their Local trading Standards via Consumer Advice Service 03454040506 and the matter will be investigated.

Following on from information supplied to Falkirk Council Trading Standards, a number of counterfeit ‘Segways’ were seized at Grangemouth docks. These will be destroyed by UK Border Agency.

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MEMBER UPDATES The Scottish Anti-Illicit Trade Group are currently working on a new Facebook page and website in order to share our messaging more widely with Scottish communities. This will support the already operational @Scottishaitg twitter account which has been sharing member stories and has reached an audience of over 70,000 in only a few months.

Food Crime & Incidents Unit Celebrates Second Birthday The Scottish Food Crime & Incidents Unit was established in 2015 to deal with routine food incidents, food-related outbreaks and the surveillance and detection of fraud and deliberate non-compliance within the food chain.

Is an international initiative co-ordinated by Europol and Interpol to encourage participating countries to hold a focused period of activity against illicit, counterfeit and sub-standard food.

The team of 14 work closely with a number of partners in Scotland and across the UK, including Police Scotland, local authorities, the Food Standards Agency, and the food industry itself.

This year, the focus for Scotland during Operation OPSON VII is fresh tuna.

In August 2016, the Scottish Food Crime Hotline was launched in partnership with Crimestoppers so industry and members of the public can report, in confidence, any information and intelligence on potential food fraud. This free hotline number - 0800 028 7926 - is operational 24 hours a day, seven days a week, and there is also an option to report concerns via a non-traceable online form. https://forms.theiline.co.uk/ScottishFoodCrime

Operation OPSON

In 2017, Food Standards Scotland (FSS) was appointed joint UK lead for this annual project. This enhanced the role already undertaken by FSS over the last few years in co-ordinating enforcement activity in Scotland with key partners.

There is considerable reporting emanating from the EU and the Food Industry Intelligence Network (FIIN) that the adulteration and substitution of tuna is a global issue. The adulteration comprises several methods to improve the appearance of the tuna to make it look fresher or better quality, which is exacerbated by the abuse of durability dates which increases public health concerns. The Scottish Food Crime and Incidents Unit (SFCIU) at FSS is co-ordinating a European partnership approach involving the FSA and a number of other EU member states to undertake sampling and analysis of tuna. This is likely to amount to around 40 samples being taken in Scotland. From on-going activity, intelligence has already been shared by SFCIU with European partners regarding suspected rogue tuna producers.

Hotline The Unit is the joint UK lead for Operation OPSON - an international initiative co-ordinated by Europol & Interpol encouraging contributing countries to run targeted activities to combat counterfeit & sub-standard food. Our role is to bring relevant partners together in Scotland for a joined-up approach.

For further information and future submissions for the newsletter please contact either David Nolan by email [email protected] or DC Andy Law by email [email protected]

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