Glasgow Trading Standards: Barras Market In this feature notoriety community regeneration Cleaning up the Barras How a multi-agency partnership gradually and patiently defeated an overwhelming counterfeit and illicit trading problem in the historic Barras Market area of Glasgow. Linda Gray recounts how it was done O ne of Glasgows most famous institutions, the Barras, in the citys East End was, for many years, a flourishing marketplace, well known for its bargains. In more recent times, however, it fell into decline, and became notorious for sales of counterfeit goods by illegal street traders and market-stall operators and even by some surrounding businesses. Consequently, undesirable elements were attracted to the area, adversely affecting both legitimate trade and the local community. Traditional methods were originally used to target the counterfeiters, but it wasnt until a multi-agency approach was implemented that real progress was made. In 2013, Operation Salang was launched and, in its first year, officers seized more than 2m worth of goods and32 people were arrested. In the past three years, this ongoing, targeted approach has resulted in more than 30m worth of fake goods being seized. Directed response The removal of stalls selling fake goods has encouraged legitimate businesses to return to the area Glasgow Trading Standards and Police Scotland had been countering the growing, destructive effect of illegal trading in the Barras by seizingcounterfeit material from market stalls. Frustratingly, however, this method of enforcement only seemed to disrupt the illicit trading for a very limited time. Counterfeit goods were no sooner seized and taken away than the illegal street traders were back up and running with replenished stock. It was clear that a partnership approach was needed, but on a much wider scale than in the past. So a multi-agency approach was formulated to focus a strong, directed response to illicit trade in the Barras and its surrounding area. This not only resulted in goods seizures and the reporting of the sellers, but enabled the police to ensure that those involved in criminal behaviour were excluded from operating in the area again. Community liaison Police and Glasgow Trading Standards officers attended local community group meetings, involving legitimate traders working in the area, to give updates on how the long-complained-about issues were being managed. Other local authority services also played a significant role in providing additional support; they looked at ways to improve the overall look and feel of the area, including grant funding for particular types of work. When Operation Salang began, in late August 2013, it targeted specific operators of stalls, shops and residential addresses involved inthe sale and distribution of counterfeit goods, including film, music,e-books, clothing, footwear, accessories, electrical goods and tobacco products. The main objectives were to gather intelligence, identify those involved, and develop an effective working practice with partner agencies. This ongoing, targeted approach resulted in a significant improvement, and the removal of stalls selling fake goods has encouraged legitimate businesses to return to the area. Partner buy-in There were a number of challenges along the way, one of which was convincing relevant partners that this would need to be a longer-term plan/commitment than previous attempts. Another was getting the local community including legitimate traders living and working inthe area on board and trusting that there would be genuine support for them throughout theprocess. What made this campaign different from all previous efforts was the buy-in from all relevant partners, and our commitment to sustain the effort required to tackle the issues. Enforcement activity carried out by trading standards, in partnership with Police Scotland, was supplemented by an increase in intelligence, which was then used to direct future activities under Operation Salang. The Scottish Anti Illicit Trade Group was fully supportive, too, and many of its members including industry representatives directly affected by the illicit trading activities were happy to assist, as well as supply intelligence whenever possible. Part of our success was securing 5m to assist with the regeneration of the area. New arts ventures, with opportunities for young people, arenow being hosted in some of the previously unoccupied buildings, while a new a music venue on the site has created 25 jobs and is attracting great public support. Finally, the Barras Masterplan was established with the aim of creating a positive future direction for the local community. The proposals contained within it are expected to influence future spend in the area from other major projects. Whats next? Glasgow Trading Standards will offer continued support to the area, including giving business advice and taking enforcement action with our partners whenever necessary. Legitimate traders within the Barras expressed a desire for it to be accredited as a Real Deal marketplace, and we hope to help them work towards this in the future. T IPS FOR S IMIL AR PROJECTS Ensure you have people around the table Keep operational activity on a scale One of the stand-out aspects of this has who can make the decisions and commit that allows you to manage it effectively. been the partnership working and the resources at the start of the discussions We had previously gone for large-scale, dedication to trying to deal with a long- a record of the commitment is useful multi-agency operations, which won term, on-going problem. With greater big headlines, but didnt actually get us sharing of intelligence, we were able everyone contributing where possible, any further down the supply chain of the to build up a robust picture of potential and can it be used to direct future illicit goods targets, and then discuss how best to Keep abreast of intelligence sharing. Is operational plans? Maintain an actions log to keep everyone Smaller-scale operations, on a regular basis, meant we could ensure our progress the operational activity Although Operation Salang has been on track, and to remind them that it selected targets were dealt with even a huge success, it has brought new is a long-term goal not a quick fix. at the cost of walking past other illegal challenges for the marketplace, as well as Operations may not suit all partners at trading activity. The results were then for the community, which is now working the same time, and there will always be used to build the bigger picture and take hard to attract new businesses and arts external pressures to get your area of further action, including execution of ventures, and to fill the void created by concern pushed up the agenda warrants ridding the area of illicit trading Credits Linda Gray is assistant manager, trading standards, at Glasgow City Council. Images: John Peter Photography / Alamy To share this page, in the toolbar click on You might also like The Real Deal February 2016