FRAUD involving counterfeit goods and illegal trade marks cost Oxfordshire's trading watchdogs over £3m of county funds, it has been revealed.

The county's chief trading standards officer, David Sibbert, has called for urgent action to stem the flow of illegal goods flooding the county. He said it the white-collar crime cost legitimate businesses in the UK £3bn a year.

Mr Sibbert added in a speech to 160 business representatives at an Anti-Counterfeiting Group conference in London yesterday: "The agenda is clear. We must take action now, to reduce counterfeiting and associated practices which undermine legitimate business and damage the UK economy. The Government must take a lead role and set out a clear framework for future action." e said (FRI MAY 21).

He said a whole host of difference types of fraud were costing the taxpayer in Oxfordshire alone £3m on investigations by his officers.

Some of the worst offenders were tax and excise evaders, who harmed the economy, and counterfeiters who undermined individual businesses.

Their actions cost businesses thousands and forced them to take on fewer staff. The thieves also threatened consumer protection rights and put the public at risk by selling unsafe, unchecked goods.

Mr Sibbert's said that fraud funds were often get fed indirectly into other organised crime, too. His five-point plan to counteract the growing problem meant:

*Increasing co-operation between trading standards, police, customs and excise and European enforcement agencies

*Increasing Government funding to help his officers investigate and prosecute criminals

*Increasing the use of new technology to exchange counterfeiting intelligence

*Taking early action to combat fraud over the Internet

*Promoting an education programme for consumers.

Story date: Saturday 22 May

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