Cardiff Council Trading Standards and South Wales Police joined forces last month to tackle rogue traders in the Splott Market area of Cardiff.
Operation MAPLE, which took place on August 18th, focused on reassuring the community, reducing crime and taking action against those selling counterfeit goods.
The exercise was carried out by officers from the Council’s Trading Standards department, Roath and Cathays Neighbourhood Policing Team and the force’s ANPR – Automated Number Plate Recognition – unit.
The operation resulted in the following action:
- Three arrests were made for the following offences: disqualified driving; taking a vehicle without consent, driving with no license and no insurance; and theft in Pontypridd. The first two were charged to court and the latter was bailed pending further inquiries.
- Three seizures: one linked to a disqualified driving; one of a stolen vehicle found in the street; and one of a vehicle as used in crime.
- One Fixed Penalty Notice was issued for no seat belt.
Trading Standards officers also made several seizures for counterfeit items, including CDs, DVDs, jewellery, watches, lighters and Xbox games. Many of these items have now been destroyed and the Department for Work and Pensions are subsequently investigating two people.
Councillor Judith Woodman, Executive Member for Housing, Communities and Social Justice said:
“We are determined to actively tackle the issue of rogue trading in Cardiff and operations like this help us to weed-out the minority of unscrupulous traders who use our streets for nefarious reasons.
“We want members of the public to remain confident that any criminal activity will not be tolerated and be aware that operations like this one will be carried out regularly across Cardiff.”
Pc Mike Neate, Splott Neighbourhood Officer, said:
“Splott Market is of great benefit to the area financially and socially and we want members of the public to remain confident that any criminality will not be tolerated. “The market is very much a positive part of the local community and with most things there is only a small minority of people who cause concern.
“The South Wales Police ANPR team was proactively patrolling the area throughout the day and worked closely with the neighbourhood policing team and Trading Standards who dealt with a number of persons for trading with either counterfeit or illegal goods.
“The attendance of so many people and vehicles in Splott can attract opportunist thieves and hopefully our presence was not only a deterrent to these individuals but also a reassurance to visitors, some of whom commented how good it was to see us in the area.”
