Touchstone

Touchstone Award: Hull Trading Standards In this feature l hallmarking l Touchstone Award 2016 l non-compliant websites All that glisters is not gold, nor may it be hallmarked, either. We look at how Hull Trading Standards is taking a stand against hallmarking infringement W ith precious metal prices remaining high after Brexit, there is huge scope in the precious metals market for fraudsters. Hallmarking, the oldest formof consumer protection in the UK, remains vitally important. Which is why news of Hull Trading Standards recent award is so timely. Careful planning and excellent follow up have resulted in the council winning the prestigious Touchstone Award 2016 for the best initiative relating to hallmarking (see panel, A winning turn). The initiative was clear evidence of the organisations commitment to hallmarking enforcement and raising consumer awareness. It also demonstrated, asso many Touchstone Award entries have done, that a hallmarking infringement can often be an indication of much deeper and wider underlying offences. With ever-increasing pressure on enforcement officers plus a plethora of life-changing dangerous goods to be controlled it is tempting to ignore hallmarking, as it has no immediate impact on health or safety. However, as is typical, the findings of the Hull exercise revealed practices A WINNINg TuRN that could potentially damage the most Hull City Council was the winner of this years vulnerable consumers. They could also have a Touchstone Award, which was announced at detrimental impact on legitimate business and the CTSI Conference back in June. The council the economic development of the region. was formally presented with the award, once The Hull Trading Standards initiative again, at an official civic ceremony at the began with a small exercise in 2014-15, which Guildhall in Hull, where all elected members found that only 60 per cent of jewellers It is tempting and senior officers of the council were present. premises visited were fully compliant with the to ignore Presenting the award, Christopher Jewitt, Hallmarking Act. As this followed inspections hallmarking, chairman of the British Hallmarking Council, in 2010/2011, strong measures were taken said: The British Hallmarking Council is as it has no against offenders. Jewellery without a committed to working with CTSI and other immediate authorities to enforce our legislation. We were hallmark was seized and warning letters impact on very pleased with this years entries, and Hulls issued. Asa result of these findings, a much health or safety application was excellent. wider investigation was planned for 2015/16. It involved thorough preparation, planning Supported by Sheffield Assay Office, and follow-through, and there are clear officers created a plan with a clear target outcomes that have definitely improved both audience and defined objectives, focused the enforcement and awareness of hallmarking on protecting the public from unfair trade in the area. in precious metals. The project included a muchwider survey. Of 20 shops visited including some representing national chains five were found to be non-compliant. As before, jewellery without a hallmark was discovered and, as a result, one independent store was fined for hallmarking offences, while the directors of a multiple store business were required to review closely and improve the companys procedures, resulting in the implementation of a much more rigorous system. The swift and decisive way in which Hull sanctioned the offenders was a major factor in their winning the Touchstone Award. All too often, the judges have read reports of good initial work being diminished by lack of prompt and effective follow up. No-nonsense consequences guEST APPEARANCE such as legal proceedings or seizure of stock Chris Wilson, lead officer for the project at send out a very strong, overt message to the Hull Trading Standards, was a guest of the community, delivering a significantly bigger British Hallmarking Council (BHC) at the CTSI impact than would a less robust response. Conference Awards Dinner in Telford. Since then, his award-winning team has been honoured at More to come With precious metal prices remaining high after Brexit, there is huge scope in the precious metals market for fraudsters a civic presentation in Hull in September. Unsurprisingly, the investigations by Hull The final celebration of the teams success, Trading Standards uncovered other offences. which will hopefully inspire them to further One of these was the discovery of a situation hallmarking enforcement activity, will take which plagues the fine jewellery industry place in November. The Worshipful Company of anon-compliant website flouting commonly Goldsmiths will play host to Chris Wilson and his colleagues from Hull on an educational tour of accepted best practice. This was operated Assay Office London, followed by lunch in the bya retailer as a separate entity from the back Goldsmiths Hall in the company of members of of his shop. The eBay website was offering the BHC and Goldsmiths Company. The days completely separate stock, much of which programme will also include free hallmarking was not hallmarked, but was authenticated training for up to 10 people. This event will by unsubstantiated certificates and inaccurate mark the launch of the 2017 competition, as valuations that mis-described many of the applications are once again invited from items. This infringed the Hallmarking Act, trading standards officers throughout the UK. theConsumer Protection from Unfair Trading Speaking of the impact of winning the award, Regulations and the Trade Marks Act. Wilson said: Our hallmarking project started as Test purchases made and assessed by the a relatively modest survey to gauge the local level of compliance with the law. However, this Sheffield Assay Office confirmed that the items soon led to uncovering significant consumer were being mis-sold. A swoop on the three fraud in this area. stores within the same group recovered more The team was delighted to win the than 300 items of jewellery from one location. Touchstone Award, but the excellent assistance These were seized for further inspection. and general support provided by the Sheffield Approximately 140 items had no hallmark, Assay Office should also be recognised. amounting to a potential retail value of 150,000. The scale of potential fraud from just one retailer with a misleading website which would never have been discovered without the diligence of Hull Trading Standards is evidence of the level of monetary damage consumers can suffer from dishonest traders. Hull Trading Standards is now further investigating online jewellery sales inits area. The investigation strongly highlighted the need for a better consumer understanding of hallmarking legislation. Hull Trading Standards has addressed this by creating a straightforward consumer-focused hallmarking leaflet, which has been very well received by the trade and is now being distributed via many outlets in the area. TOuCHSTONE AWARD 2017 APPLY NOW! The annual Touchstone Award is presented by the British Hallmarking Council, and is funded entirely by the four UK Assay Offices. The award was launched in 2012 to encourage education and about enforcement of hallmarking, and to reward the best initiative relating to hallmarking. Entries in the first few years have strongly reinforced the need for proactive implementation of the Hallmarking Act, and continual education of both consumers and traders about its requirements. Details outlined in entries to date paint an unpleasant picture of exploitation, cheating and outright fraud. In some cases this has led to proceedings under the Proceeds of Crime or Money Laundering legislation, as well as the Hallmarking Act. Old and long-established, our uniquely robust independent hallmarking system remains vitally important, particularly as high precious metal prices increase the temptation and opportunity for unscrupulous cheats. So, if you have completed or are planning or currently delivering an initiative on hallmarking education or enforcement, please consider applying for the Touchstone Award 2017. For more information, contact Alison Byne, assistant to the deputy warden and events coordinator, Goldsmiths Company Assay Office, on 020 7606 8971, or email alison.byne@assayofficelondon.co.uk Credits Marion Wilson is director AnchorCert Academy at the Assay Office Birmingham Images: Jan Faukner / Shutterstock To share this page, in the toolbar click on You might also like The jeweller, the assayer and the officer May 2016