A number of East Lothian self-storage businesses have received a big tick from the local Trading Standards team to give their customers confidence and deter criminals from using their facilities.
East Lothian Trading Standards service has taken part in a Scottish-wide project to audit self-storage businesses and raise awareness of the Tick Box Code of Practice. Working with the Intellectual Property Office (IPO) and the Self Storage Industry Association UK (SSA UK) to encourage the highest standards and best practice across the industry, the ‘Tick Box: Keep it Real. Keep it Legal’ scheme helps self-storage businesses to deter criminals from using their facilities.
Figures from enforcement agencies show that increasing quantities of counterfeit and illicit goods are being seized in, and on route to, self-storage facilities.
The national initiative focuses on collaborative working between self-storage facility owners and their local Trading Standards service. The scheme provides a quality assurance to storage customers that their items are in a safe and well-protected environment. It also improves the due diligence of the business to know its customer and to be alert to suspicious activity or customer behaviour while sending a strong message to anyone considering storing illegal products that it will not be tolerated.
So far seven East Lothian self-storage businesses have met the criteria and have agreed to participate and adhere to the code of practice following an on-site audit by Trading Standards. They are: C + M Storage (Seton Mains), Dunbar Container Storage (Dunbar), Dunbar Removals and Storage (Gilmerton Estate), East Lothian Self Storage (Tranent), Ferrygate Storage (North Berwick), Ladybird Self Storage (Macmerry) and Need Space Dunbar (West Barns).
Alexandra Connell East Lothian Trading Standards Manager said: “I am very pleased to have issued these seven businesses with their code of practice certificate following a successful audit. Self-storage facilities can be attractive to criminals who want to operate ‘below the radar’ and store illicit goods. This initiative will help to protect East Lothian residents and business from being exposed to crime relating to illicit or stolen goods including counterfeit goods and unsafe consumer products.”
The project in Scotland has been coordinated by the Society of Chief Officers of Trading Standards in Scotland (SCOTSS) who have been working in partnership with the Intellectual Property Office (IPO).
For further information visit: https://tick-box.org.uk/