Market operator does all it can to keep illegal traders at bay

Jul 2 2009 West Lothian Courier

ON Thursday, June 11, an article was published in The Courier headed as ‘Fake Tobacco Worth Over £1000 Is Seized’ and as the operators of the market, Spook Erection are unhappy that it gave the impression that the fake tobacco was actually on the market itself and there was no proof to say that was its intended destination.

We have a strict policy that no tobacco whatsoever can be sold on the market and this policy was brought into being back in December 2000 as we were finding it difficult to tell the real thing from the fake.

We have worked closely with the police in relation to these illicit sellers who are often found in the car park adjacent to the market, which we have no control over, and do all we can to assist in the eradication of any illicit / counterfeit goods of any nature.

It is felt that the genuine hard working market traders are given a bad reputation by newspaper reports such as this and we would like to see matters put right as, on that day in question, our employees on the market say they were neither visited nor raided by the police or HM Customs.

The market appears to be an easy escape route for these illicit groups as when any official body is to hand they travel light with only a bag to pick up before simply joining in and mingling with the general public carrying bags of shopping etc.

Jill Hall

Spokeswoman,

Spook Erection