Is Your Six Nations Kit Showing Its True Colours?

As the Six Nations championship gets underway, be sure to show your support in your team’s true colours – that’s the message from Fake Free Newport. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Fake replica kits can seem tempting and much more affordable; however they are often poor quality and can even be dangerous. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

A fake sports shirt, no matter how convincing it looks, will not have been through the rigorous testing and quality control processes carried out by the major brands and retailers. Counterfeit goods can contain harmful chemicals and may not reach acceptable safety standards. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

In addition, such goods are often produced in factories where workers face poor conditions, pay and exploitation. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Councillor Bob Poole, Newport City Council’s Cabinet Member for Regulatory Functions, said: “Fake goods and services may seem like a bargain, but they can be very damaging – to health and safety, to legitimate business and to the rights of individuals. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

“Please be sure that when you show your support over the coming weeks that you are wearing a genuine jersey bought from a reputable trader – the knock-on effects of buying counterfeit can be considerable.” ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Fake Free Newport was launched by Newport City Council’s Trading Standards team in December 2016 in a bid to make the city free of fake and counterfeit goods and services. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Working with the public and local businesses, the aim is to raise awareness and prevent the sale of these poor quality and illegal items. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Not only can counterfeit goods can be dangerous to the user, they are also often distributed by organised crime groups and individuals who hide their profits from the government. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

The sale of counterfeit goods and services also costs the UK economy millions of pounds each year and puts at risk the jobs and livelihoods of thousands of workers and business owners. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

A number of key city retailers have signed up to the scheme and are displaying ‘Fake Free Newport’ window stickers which serve to reassure customers that their goods and services are genuine. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Newport City Council also takes it responsibility in enforcing the laws around counterfeit and fake goods seriously and will investigate and prosecute individuals and traders breaking the law. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​