News IP crime stabilises The latest report into intellectual property crime has found that, in many areas, the growth of IP crime is stabilising. The Intellectual Property Offices (IPO) IP Crime Report 2014/15, has found many promising signs that IP enforcement activities are having an impact. However, there are other emerging trends that will inform the IPOs activities in 2015/16, such as: G The use of social media for sales of counterfeits G Growth in sales of high-value counterfeit items, such as handbags, watches and electrical items Locally, IP crime has been identified by trading standards in ordinary high street shops, and IP criminals have been found operating from private residences. According to the report, car boot sales, street stalls, pubs and clubs continue to be IP crime hotspots. Read the full report here. STOCKSOLUTIONS / SHUTTERSTOCK Mohammed Raq, director of Mar Takeaway, trading as Stazione Pizza and Sanam Balti, in Crossgates, Leeds, appeared before Leeds Magistrates Court in September, where he pleaded guilty to offences under the Food Safety Act 1990. On 10 September, as part of routine sampling work, an ofcer from West Yorkshire Trading Standards visited Stazione Pizza and Sanam Balti. The ofcer placed an order for a lamb bhuna advertised on the takeaways menu. The meal was collected by the ofcer and an inspection of the premises was undertaken. The lamb bhuna was submitted to and subsequently analysed by the public analyst. The analysis determined that the meat used in the lamb bhuna was actually beef. The sample was not of the substance demanded within the meaning of Section 14 of the Food Safety Act 1990. When interviewed by investigating Ofcers at West Yorkshire Trading Standards, Raq said he had no idea the restaurant was supplying beef. He said that he believed he had ordered lamb from his supplier, although the receipts he provided to ofcers only stated meat and did not identify the animal origin. Raq was ned 500 with a 50 victim surcharge, and ordered to pay costs of 2,172.38. David Lodge, head of trading standards, said: Consumers rightly expect to get what they pay for. This takeaway made substitutions, seemingly to save money, without informing the customer. Trading standards will continue to take action against takeaways or restaurants outing the law. Councillor Pauline Grahame, deputy chairman of the West Yorkshire joint services committee, which oversees the work of trading standards, said: Takeaways must takes steps to ensure all menu descriptions accurately reect the dishes they serve. The mis-description of food, whether verbally or in writing, is an offence and samples are taken to identify those businesses failing to comply with the law. ABIMAGES / SHUTTERSTOCK Leeds takeaway fined for food fraud Trading standards halt auction sale of lame sheep East meets west The City of London Trading Standards team played host to a delegation of 25 Chinese representatives who were keen to hear about the way trading standards operates in the UK. The representatives, from the Chinese State Administration for Industry and Commerce, visited in September and were particularly interested to find out more about the powers that officers have to visit trade premises. After the presentation, trading standards manager Steve Playle, and public protection assistant director Tony Macklin, were presented with traditional Chinese gifts. Playle said: It was interesting to find out a little about consumer issues in China and surprising to hear that they also have problems with cold-calling home maintenance traders. One of Lancashires best-known and busiest livestock auctions has been ned after 23 lame sheep, about to go through the sale ring, were found on its premises. Gisburn Auction Marts, and its auctioneer Jonathan Turner, pleaded guilty to offences of permitting unt sheep to be exposed for sale, when he appeared at Blackburn Magistrates Court in September. During a previous hearing, the court had been told that a trading standards ofcer had been on duty at the auction on 13 September last year when he noticed the distinct smell of foot rot in the area around the sale pens. In all, 23 sheep were identied as ranging between moderately lame and non-weight-bearing, from a consignment of 200 animals that had been delivered to the auction the evening before. A vet was called to attend to the animals and reported foot rot and scald lesions, some containing maggot infestation. Scald lesions the most common cause of lameness in sheep occur whenever conditions underfoot are wet. The court heard how the animals had come from a farm near Formby, on Merseyside. Prosecuting for Lancashire County Council, Nick McNamara said that Jonathan Turner had sorted the consignment into lots on the morning of the sale, but had failed to notice that some animals were lame. He said that Auction Marts should have had a system in place to prevent what happened, or else procedures had not been followed. Basil Dearing, solicitor, said that Gisburn Auction Marts and Jonathan Turner were disappointed to nd themselves in court and would look to learn lessons from what had happened. He accepted that the company procedures had fallen down and that the auction had been trying to do too much in too little time. Sentencing both defendants for offences against the Animal Health Act 1981, District Judge, James Clarke said it was a fundamental requirement to protect the welfare of animals at market. Fines and costs totalling 1,765 were ordered to be paid by the company, and 1,352 by Jonathan Turner. The farmer, Peter Wilkinson, had previously been ordered to pay 1,235 when he appeared before the district judge in July.