Parents are being urged not to fall victim to rogue traders while buying Christmas presents for their children following the seizure of a large number of fake and unsafe toys.
Officers from North Yorkshire Council’s trading standards team recovered a haul of Labubu dolls at several retail premises in the county.
Because they are so popular and collectible, there’s been a surge in counterfeiting.
The discoveries were made in the Scarborough and Whitby areas and are now the subject of ongoing investigations.
North Yorkshire Council’s executive member for managing our environment, Cllr Richard Foster, whose responsibilities include trading standards, said: “This operation sends a timely reminder to both those who bring these substandard toys into our county and to parents.
“We will not hesitate to take action when we discover operations like this, and parents should be aware of the potential risk they are presenting to their children if they buy from unscrupulous retailers.
“We want families to enjoy a safe and happy Christmas, so it’s important to check that toys meet safety standards and are purchased from reputable sellers.”
At this time of year there is huge competition for the public’s money and some people might be tempted by items that are being offered at much cheaper prices than normal or that are available online although are out of stock at major outlets.
The council’s head of trading standards, Jo Boutflower, said: “Popular items, such as Labubu dolls or products featuring characters such as Stitch or Bluey, may be counterfeit and fake items will not have been through the rigorous safety testing required of genuine products.”
Other issues to look out for before buying presents this Christmas include:
- Small parts on toys which could become detached and pose a choking or inhalation hazard.
- Cords or ties which could become wrapped around a child’s throat and cause a risk of strangulation.
- Plastic toys and toy jewellery which may contain heavy metals and other chemicals.
- Larger toys with moving parts which could include entrapment hazards.
