A fake goods ‘street market’ is to be set up in Glasgow’s George Square to warn people against buying counterfeit products.

The initiative is part of an international conference at the City Chambers on May 27 which brings together world leading figures in the battle against illicit trade.

Hosted by the Scottish Business Resilience Centre (SBRC), ‘The Real McCoy’ will welcome representatives from dozens of agencies including Europol, Interpol and US Homeland Security.

The conference will examine trade in counterfeit consumer goods, such as fashion wear and accessories, as well as dangerous food produce, medical products and technology.

A fully interactive live ‘street market’ stocked with fake goods will aim to highlight the often hidden dangers of counterfeit products.

Figures released to the Evening Times last year show that fake goods valued at more than half a million pounds were seized by Trading Standards officers in Glasgow in 2014.

The counterfeit products included perfumes, clothing, bags, mobile phones, sunglasses, watches, hair straighteners and jewellery.

In 2014, 6,195 items were seized with a value of £575,000, up from 6,110 items taken off the streets in 2013.

Chief Inspector Ronald Megaughin, Deputy Director of SBRC, said: “We find that a lot of consumers and businesses are buying into this dangerous trade without full knowledge, believing they have bought genuine goods only to discover at a later date that it is not the case.

“Others may purchase these goods in the belief it is a victimless crime, or that they are getting a genuine bargain. We need to see a transformation away from that way of thinking.

“In reality, illicit trade is a crime that has many victims – from the origins of these products in non-regulated environments all the way to the purchaser who lacks protection and security in knowing their product is genuine.

“In worst cases, illicit goods, especially in the areas of food, medicine and tobacco can have deadly consequences.”

The conference will feature talks from Mark Hogarth from Harris Tweed discussing the industry perspective in illicit goods.

Also speaking will be Lynda Scammell, from the Medicines and Healthcare Products Regulatory Agency (MHRA), and Mike Isles of the Alliance of Safe Online Pharmacy (ASOP EU), who will both discuss the danger of the illicit trade in medicines and medical devices.

The SBRC is also set to welcome a speaker from Business in the Community for China to provide advice to Scottish businesses looking to engage with the emerging Chinese economy.

The event will be hosted by Michael Ellis of Interpol who is known for his campaign against the trading of fake alcohol which led one of the world’s largest seizures of fake food and drink.

Chief Inspector Megaughin added: “Being a global issue, the calibre of our international contributors to this event is quite incredible – and a real opportunity to learn a great deal more about this pertinent issue.”

For more information on the conference, visit: www.sbrcentre.co.uk.