£10,000 of counterfeit goods seized at Walsall's Bescot Market
A £10,000 haul of counterfeit goods was seized at Walsall's Bescot Market in a police swoop, it was revealed today. The raid was part of Operation Canticle, which aimed to reduce crime in Walsall over the busy festive and New Year period.
West Midlands Police said it led to a 12.5 per cent drop in theft and a five per cent cut in shoplifting. Public order offences fell by 25 per cent in the borough compared to the same time last year. Warrants were executed at a town centre address and multiple class A drugs and stolen goods were seized.
A 32-year-old man was arrested for possession of class A drugs and handling stolen goods.
Over the Christmas and New Year period, police employed tactics to try and keep shoppers and revellers in Walsall town centre safe.
Officers were at Walsall bus station to meet and greet people and manned a market stall, handing our purse bells.
Sgt Greg Evans, from Walsall police station, said: "We are extremely pleased with the results of the operation.
"We hope our activity reassures shoppers and legitimate traders that we are trying to protect them by disrupting and arresting people who trade illegally.
"We wanted to make Walsall town centre a safe place for people to shop and socialise and these results show that the operation has achieved that aim."
Officers from West Midlands Police and Trading Standards swooped on Bescot Market on the Sunday before Christmas.
It is the latest raid on the popular Sunday market, which has been running for 21 years.
In January last year, more than 200 counterfeit DVDs were seized in a raid on the site.
It came just weeks after 2,000 fake goods including Ugg boots and handbags with a street value of £20,000 were seized by officers.
Traders caught selling counterfeit goods at markets in Walsall have been warned they could be given lifetime bans.
