0:00:02 > 0:00:05Welcome to a world where nothing is quite as it seems.
0:00:05 > 0:00:08Welcome to Fake Britain.
0:00:25 > 0:00:28Here at the Fake Britain house we'll reveal the fakes
0:00:28 > 0:00:31that are flooding the market, conning people like you and me
0:00:31 > 0:00:33and making money for the criminals.
0:00:33 > 0:00:35We'll investigate the fraudsters
0:00:35 > 0:00:40who are selling us something that isn't real and could be dangerous.
0:00:40 > 0:00:43And we'll help you avoid falling for a fake.
0:00:45 > 0:00:47Today on Fake Britain...
0:00:47 > 0:00:50the fake sunglasses that could harm your health.
0:00:50 > 0:00:52I was absolutely devastated.
0:00:52 > 0:00:56We didn't realise that I would have to lose all of the eye.
0:00:56 > 0:01:00The puppies with fake identities being trafficked into the country.
0:01:00 > 0:01:03They came and collected him and took him away.
0:01:04 > 0:01:07We have a close shave with fake razor blades.
0:01:07 > 0:01:11It was tugging and it was tearing at my skin, at my hairs,
0:01:11 > 0:01:13and I just had to stop immediately.
0:01:13 > 0:01:16And the brake pads that could cost you your life.
0:01:16 > 0:01:18It might not have the stopping distance,
0:01:18 > 0:01:21they might overheat and that's why we need to get them off the market.
0:01:26 > 0:01:29Designer sunglasses can be expensive,
0:01:29 > 0:01:33but you're paying for the brand and the quality of the lenses.
0:01:33 > 0:01:36They'll offer high levels of protection from the damaging effects
0:01:36 > 0:01:38of the sun's ultraviolet light.
0:01:38 > 0:01:42These say 100% UV protection.
0:01:42 > 0:01:44Unfortunately, I can't believe that because these
0:01:44 > 0:01:47and all the other sunglasses here are fake.
0:01:47 > 0:01:51If you bought these you might not only waste your money
0:01:51 > 0:01:53but also damage your eyes.
0:01:56 > 0:02:00Deborah Caine from Manchester believes she knows all about
0:02:00 > 0:02:02the dangers of fake sunglasses.
0:02:02 > 0:02:04When she was in her teens and twenties,
0:02:04 > 0:02:06like many people at the time,
0:02:06 > 0:02:09Deborah was less concerned about the dangers or UV exposure.
0:02:09 > 0:02:14She spent her summers topping up her tan in sunny holiday destinations.
0:02:14 > 0:02:18Deb and her friends were on a heat seeking mission for the perfect tan.
0:02:18 > 0:02:20No pain, no gain.
0:02:20 > 0:02:22You knew you were catching the sun because
0:02:22 > 0:02:25you could feel it burning you and you'd be there thinking,
0:02:25 > 0:02:27"Oh, this is great cos I am getting a tan and
0:02:27 > 0:02:30"know even though I'm going to burn, I will get a little bit of colour."
0:02:30 > 0:02:33As well as chasing the sun, Deb was keen to hunt down the best deal
0:02:33 > 0:02:36possible on fake designer sunglasses.
0:02:36 > 0:02:40We used to bargain with the guys on holiday to get as many
0:02:40 > 0:02:43different pairs of them as possible for the cheapest possible price
0:02:43 > 0:02:48so that we could have a Chanel pair, a Dolce & Gabbana pair,
0:02:48 > 0:02:51Armani pair, as many pairs as you want.
0:02:52 > 0:02:56A few years later though, Deb started to have a problem with her eyesight.
0:02:56 > 0:02:58I started getting double vision in my eye.
0:02:58 > 0:03:03And then went to the hospital, they had a look inside my eye
0:03:03 > 0:03:07and decided there was something pretty serious in there.
0:03:07 > 0:03:13I went and had a scan done privately and it was malignant melanoma.
0:03:13 > 0:03:15Deb had an ocular melanoma,
0:03:15 > 0:03:19a rare type of cancer that develops in the eye.
0:03:19 > 0:03:22I was absolutely devastated and at the time when they first told me
0:03:22 > 0:03:26we didn't realise I would have to lose all the eye.
0:03:27 > 0:03:31Deb's eye cancer was so dangerously close to her brain
0:03:31 > 0:03:33that there was only one option.
0:03:33 > 0:03:37Had two doctors that did it, very, really brilliant doctors,
0:03:37 > 0:03:39that I wouldn't be here without them.
0:03:39 > 0:03:43They took my eye out and the rest I suppose is history.
0:03:47 > 0:03:52Long term exposure to UV light is known to damage our eyes in many ways
0:03:52 > 0:03:54and can increase the risks of cataracts,
0:03:54 > 0:03:57the leading cause of blindness.
0:03:57 > 0:04:01Cancers of the eyelid are also linked to exposure to UV light.
0:04:01 > 0:04:06Deb believes her eye cancer was due to excessive exposure to UV light
0:04:06 > 0:04:09caused by wearing fake sunglasses on holiday.
0:04:10 > 0:04:13So these are fake Chanel sunglasses
0:04:13 > 0:04:16and these are my own genuine Ray Ban sunglasses.
0:04:16 > 0:04:20When you compare the two, the difference is vast.
0:04:20 > 0:04:25For example, you can see quite a lot of reflection on this cheap pair,
0:04:25 > 0:04:29but on the Ray-Bans there's hardly any reflection at all.
0:04:29 > 0:04:34This pair of sunglasses when I where them, it shades a lot of the light.
0:04:34 > 0:04:37This one, there is hardly any protection at all.
0:04:37 > 0:04:42You can see straight away it doesn't take any glare away at all.
0:04:42 > 0:04:45Deb believes the fake sunglasses she wore on holiday
0:04:45 > 0:04:48could have contributed to her serious medical problems.
0:04:48 > 0:04:54I do think that there is a link between wearing fake sunglasses
0:04:54 > 0:04:58and me getting a malignant melanoma.
0:04:59 > 0:05:03We wanted to find out more about the possible links between
0:05:03 > 0:05:06long term ultraviolet exposure and serious eye damage.
0:05:06 > 0:05:09So we spoke to Doctor Mandeep Sagoo,
0:05:09 > 0:05:13a leading eye surgeon specialising in eye tumours and ocular melanoma.
0:05:13 > 0:05:19UV light exposure in early life may lead to problems in later life.
0:05:20 > 0:05:24The effects of UV light on our eyes are being widely researched
0:05:24 > 0:05:27and some of the conclusions are worrying.
0:05:27 > 0:05:31Ocular melanoma is generally melanoma on the inside of the eye
0:05:31 > 0:05:35and there are studies out of Australia which suggested a link
0:05:35 > 0:05:41between UV light exposure and the development of melanoma.
0:05:42 > 0:05:46When it comes to being out in bright sunlight the medical advice is clear.
0:05:46 > 0:05:50Sunglasses are used to do a particular job.
0:05:50 > 0:05:55One of the key ways of protecting yourself from UV light exposure to
0:05:55 > 0:05:59the eye is to wear good sunglasses that have
0:05:59 > 0:06:02the correct UV light blocking properties.
0:06:02 > 0:06:07Fake sunglasses may end up letting in UV light
0:06:07 > 0:06:12which over a prolonged period could cause damage.
0:06:12 > 0:06:14If you're going to use sunglasses
0:06:14 > 0:06:18then they should be ones with genuine UV protection.
0:06:19 > 0:06:22And the sunglass business is booming.
0:06:22 > 0:06:27We spend over £300 million a year on sunglasses,
0:06:27 > 0:06:30so the profits to be made are pretty clear to the fakers.
0:06:34 > 0:06:38John Jacobs from Scambusters South West has been at the centre of one of
0:06:38 > 0:06:42the largest fake sunglasses operation he's ever had to deal with.
0:06:42 > 0:06:45If you can imagine a place similar to this,
0:06:45 > 0:06:50it was a huge warehouse, with wall-to-wall fake goods.
0:06:50 > 0:06:53This is the largest quantity of fake sunglasses
0:06:53 > 0:06:56that we've found in one seizure.
0:06:57 > 0:07:00Somewhere in the region of 8,000 different sunglasses,
0:07:00 > 0:07:05and we've got Ray-Ban, Gucci, Marc Jacobs, Cartier.
0:07:07 > 0:07:08As John discovered,
0:07:08 > 0:07:12these sunglasses were a cut above the usual knock-down fakes.
0:07:12 > 0:07:18Here you have what appears to be a genuine pair of Cartier sunglasses.
0:07:18 > 0:07:20They're set in a Cartier box,
0:07:20 > 0:07:23within the box is also the pouch
0:07:23 > 0:07:25and the documentation that goes with them.
0:07:25 > 0:07:27Quite impressive, as you look at it.
0:07:27 > 0:07:30It looks like the genuine article. If I saw that for sale
0:07:30 > 0:07:33then I'd consider that to be the genuine article.
0:07:33 > 0:07:36And being able to dupe online buyers into thinking these high-end fakes
0:07:36 > 0:07:40were the real deal was exactly what the fakers were banking on.
0:07:40 > 0:07:43They've used a range of materials within this.
0:07:43 > 0:07:46You can see the different metals that have been used
0:07:46 > 0:07:51and these were being imported, as they are, in their boxes,
0:07:51 > 0:07:53designed to look like a genuine Cartier.
0:07:53 > 0:07:56And then they can sell it for the genuine price
0:07:56 > 0:08:00of somewhere around £200 per pair.
0:08:00 > 0:08:03By selling fake sunglasses, online, at close to the price of
0:08:03 > 0:08:07the genuine article, the fakers were making huge profits.
0:08:07 > 0:08:11In total, the value of the fake goods that we seized
0:08:11 > 0:08:13were well over £1 million.
0:08:13 > 0:08:16Over a six month period from one site that these fake sunglasses
0:08:16 > 0:08:22were being sold on, the criminals generated over £160,000,
0:08:22 > 0:08:26so you can see how large a scale of problem this was and the amount,
0:08:26 > 0:08:31the quantity of fake products being put out to the public.
0:08:31 > 0:08:34Darren Ward and Timothy Tivney later pleased guilty to
0:08:34 > 0:08:36unauthorised use of trademarks.
0:08:36 > 0:08:39Ward was given a 13 month suspended sentence
0:08:39 > 0:08:42and Tivney a year's community order with unpaid work.
0:08:44 > 0:08:46In this major case,
0:08:46 > 0:08:50John was concerned about more than just trademark infringement.
0:08:50 > 0:08:54Claims about UV protection meant that these fake sunglasses
0:08:54 > 0:08:57could have posed a public safety risk.
0:08:57 > 0:09:02This booklet say, "The high quality Cartier sunglasses
0:09:02 > 0:09:05"have been carefully selected to ensure excellent eye protection
0:09:05 > 0:09:08"and maximum visual comfort."
0:09:08 > 0:09:10If that is not accurate,
0:09:10 > 0:09:13which we believe it not to be because it's a fake document,
0:09:13 > 0:09:17then there's a potential of causing long lasting damage to your eyes
0:09:17 > 0:09:22through unprotected UVA, UVB rays coming through.
0:09:24 > 0:09:27Fake sunglasses like the ones seized in this raid
0:09:27 > 0:09:29are turning up all over the country.
0:09:29 > 0:09:33Paul Wright from Staffordshire Scientific Services
0:09:33 > 0:09:35is in charge of testing fake sunglasses
0:09:35 > 0:09:38that have been seized by his local trading standards team.
0:09:38 > 0:09:43Many of them carry fake CE and ultraviolet safety markings.
0:09:43 > 0:09:45When you see a CE mark on a sample
0:09:45 > 0:09:51you assume that they have been tested and been shown to be safe.
0:09:51 > 0:09:52That is not always the case.
0:09:52 > 0:09:56Anyone can put a CE mark on a piece of equipment.
0:09:56 > 0:09:59There has to be something to back it up.
0:09:59 > 0:10:02Ultraviolet light from the sun is invincible light
0:10:02 > 0:10:08that's more powerful than what we see and potentially damaging to our eyes.
0:10:08 > 0:10:11Genuine sunglasses should block out some of this light
0:10:11 > 0:10:12and protect our eyes.
0:10:12 > 0:10:15Fake sunglasses might not.
0:10:15 > 0:10:18Paul will measure how much UV light passes through
0:10:18 > 0:10:21a pair of genuine glasses and a pair of fakes
0:10:21 > 0:10:25using this UV visible spectrophotometer.
0:10:26 > 0:10:29First up, the genuine sunglasses.
0:10:29 > 0:10:33A line should be drawn on this graph here
0:10:33 > 0:10:37which will indicate the amount of light being transmitted through
0:10:37 > 0:10:39the lens of the glasses.
0:10:41 > 0:10:46If the sunglasses have adequate UV protection, this red line
0:10:46 > 0:10:49should begin to fall when it reaches the potentially harmful UV zone
0:10:49 > 0:10:52on the left of the screen.
0:10:52 > 0:10:54And this is what we're finding.
0:10:54 > 0:10:59Little or no light is passing through these lenses in
0:10:59 > 0:11:03the UVA, UVB and UVC regions.
0:11:03 > 0:11:06So these genuine sunglasses should protect the eyes of
0:11:06 > 0:11:08the person wearing them.
0:11:11 > 0:11:12What about the fakes?
0:11:15 > 0:11:17As we reach the ultraviolet region,
0:11:17 > 0:11:20light is being transmitted through the lenses.
0:11:20 > 0:11:24Paul's suspicions about the fake sunglasses are confirmed.
0:11:24 > 0:11:28And in fact, 23.6% of UVA light is passing through.
0:11:29 > 0:11:33These lenses do not provide adequate protection to the wearer.
0:11:33 > 0:11:36The consumer is at a greater risk.
0:11:38 > 0:11:41And Deb's not taking any more risks.
0:11:41 > 0:11:43These days, when she goes out in the sun,
0:11:43 > 0:11:45she makes sure she wears genuine glasses.
0:11:46 > 0:11:48Fake sunglasses shouldn't be allowed.
0:11:48 > 0:11:51It's shocking what they can do to your eyes.
0:11:51 > 0:11:54If I knew now what was going to happen,
0:11:54 > 0:11:57I definitely would never have taken the chance of wearing them.
0:12:02 > 0:12:04Meet Joe and Princess.
0:12:04 > 0:12:07Very handsome little doggies, aren't they?
0:12:07 > 0:12:11They're Maltese Terriers, which is a very popular and valuable breed,
0:12:11 > 0:12:13and they're worth around £1,200 each.
0:12:13 > 0:12:17They're both going to have one of these put under their skin.
0:12:17 > 0:12:21It's a microchip which proves who they are so that their age
0:12:21 > 0:12:24and their inoculations can be confirmed,
0:12:24 > 0:12:28but what if the chip wasn't proving their identity, but faking it?
0:12:28 > 0:12:31What if it came from a completely different dog?
0:12:31 > 0:12:33It's the puppy smugglers' latest con.
0:12:33 > 0:12:37Joe and Princess's chip information will be genuine,
0:12:37 > 0:12:39but has your puppy's been faked?
0:12:40 > 0:12:44PUPPIES BARK
0:12:44 > 0:12:48This is undercover footage of illegal puppy traffickers in Eastern Europe.
0:12:49 > 0:12:53This woman is responsible for smuggling around 1000 puppies
0:12:53 > 0:12:54into Britain each year,
0:12:54 > 0:12:57earning herself tens of thousands of pounds.
0:12:57 > 0:12:59PUPPY BARKS
0:12:59 > 0:13:01In a new ruse, illegal breeders are faking the identities
0:13:01 > 0:13:05of underage puppies to defeat UK border controls.
0:13:07 > 0:13:11Many of these puppies will be sold to unsuspecting British buyers.
0:13:15 > 0:13:20Dog-lover Sharon Fitzpatrick found out what the puppy identity fakers
0:13:20 > 0:13:21are up to the very hard way.
0:13:22 > 0:13:27We'd been talking about getting another puppy for quite a while.
0:13:27 > 0:13:32Um...we both, me and my partner, like British Bulldogs and French Bulldogs.
0:13:33 > 0:13:36French Bulldogs are one of Britain's most popular dog breeds,
0:13:36 > 0:13:39with over 5,000 new registrations each year.
0:13:39 > 0:13:42When Sharon spotted this little fella online,
0:13:42 > 0:13:44she thought she'd found the family pooch of her dreams.
0:13:45 > 0:13:48I fell in love with the photos straight away,
0:13:48 > 0:13:52so I then texted the lady to ask her if she still had them available.
0:13:53 > 0:13:56And the seller had a French Bulldog for sale.
0:13:56 > 0:13:58Sharon did background checks on the puppy,
0:13:58 > 0:14:02and was told he was a six-month-old, British-born dog,
0:14:02 > 0:14:05with a microchip, passport and all his vaccinations.
0:14:05 > 0:14:08We paid £2,000 for him, because as far as we were concerned,
0:14:08 > 0:14:12we wanted a proper French Bulldog from a reputable breeder.
0:14:12 > 0:14:14Hugo quickly became one of the family.
0:14:15 > 0:14:17Just fell in love with him straight away.
0:14:17 > 0:14:20He was just the right one for us,
0:14:20 > 0:14:21so it was just so nice.
0:14:22 > 0:14:25But Sharon's joy with the new housemate, Hugo,
0:14:25 > 0:14:27was to be short-lived.
0:14:27 > 0:14:28He started coughing,
0:14:28 > 0:14:33and then Sunday lunchtime, he was really sniffly, runny nose,
0:14:33 > 0:14:37really not himself, very lethargic, wouldn't play, which is not a puppy.
0:14:39 > 0:14:41Sharon rushed Hugo to the local vet,
0:14:41 > 0:14:45who could immediately see that Hugo was just nine weeks old.
0:14:45 > 0:14:47The vet scanned Hugo's microchip.
0:14:47 > 0:14:51He came back in, and told us, "Sorry, but this puppy's been imported."
0:14:51 > 0:14:57Bizarrely, Hugo's microchip showed that he was a six-month-old Hungarian dog,
0:14:57 > 0:14:59not a nine-week-old British puppy.
0:14:59 > 0:15:02His chip had been switched to smuggle him into the country.
0:15:02 > 0:15:07He'd been given a fake identity, and now he had pneumonia.
0:15:07 > 0:15:09That was very emotional.
0:15:10 > 0:15:12I cried,
0:15:12 > 0:15:16cos we've gone into the vet with a puppy, walking out with nothing.
0:15:17 > 0:15:20And it's just a horrible thought. I'm having to go home
0:15:20 > 0:15:23and tell the children that we've no longer got a puppy at the moment,
0:15:23 > 0:15:24cos he's very ill.
0:15:25 > 0:15:29It was very touch-and-go then if he was going to come home or not.
0:15:29 > 0:15:31Fortunately, Hugo did pull through.
0:15:32 > 0:15:35But Sharon's ordeal wasn't over.
0:15:35 > 0:15:37I get a phone call from Trading Standards to say,
0:15:37 > 0:15:40"I'm really sorry, but we have to come and get Hugo,
0:15:40 > 0:15:42"cos he has to go into proper quarantine,
0:15:42 > 0:15:44"cos he's been illegally imported."
0:15:44 > 0:15:47And they came, and collected him and took him away.
0:15:48 > 0:15:49Sorry.
0:15:51 > 0:15:55And that was just heart-wrenching, cos this was just all before Christmas.
0:15:58 > 0:16:00And it ruined our Christmas.
0:16:00 > 0:16:03You've got an empty cage sat in the corner,
0:16:03 > 0:16:04and no Hugo.
0:16:06 > 0:16:08Upsetting as it was for Sharon,
0:16:08 > 0:16:12Trading Standards had good reason to rush Hugo into quarantine near Bristol.
0:16:15 > 0:16:17For kennel owner Meg Purnell-Carpenter,
0:16:17 > 0:16:20it was a matter of national public health.
0:16:20 > 0:16:22Hugo could have had rabies,
0:16:22 > 0:16:25and nobody would have found out about it,
0:16:25 > 0:16:30and what is worrying is Hugo is only one of hundreds of puppies like this.
0:16:32 > 0:16:37Meg comes across plenty of illegally imported puppies who are not quite what they seem.
0:16:37 > 0:16:40We see a lot of these illegally imported puppies.
0:16:40 > 0:16:42In some of the breeds that we've had here,
0:16:42 > 0:16:45we've had Bulldogs, French Bulldogs,
0:16:45 > 0:16:49Pugs, Beagles, St Bernards.
0:16:49 > 0:16:52It's just amazing, the different breeds that have come in.
0:16:52 > 0:16:54And these are all illegal.
0:16:55 > 0:16:58In fact, thousands of puppies with fake identities
0:16:58 > 0:17:00are being trafficked into Britain each year.
0:17:00 > 0:17:04Under the Pet Travel Scheme, puppies are implanted with microchips,
0:17:04 > 0:17:07which show where the puppy comes from.
0:17:07 > 0:17:10The chip number matches the number in the puppy passport.
0:17:10 > 0:17:14That shows how old the dog is, and what jabs it's had.
0:17:14 > 0:17:18Puppies have to be at least 15 weeks old to enter Britain.
0:17:18 > 0:17:22Any younger, and their rabies vaccines are ineffective.
0:17:22 > 0:17:27But the fakers know that younger, cute puppies can be worth thousands more than older dogs.
0:17:27 > 0:17:30They've found a way to smuggle underage puppies into the country,
0:17:30 > 0:17:33cutting costs by not having been vaccinated.
0:17:33 > 0:17:35And that's what happened to Hugo.
0:17:35 > 0:17:39The microchip was taken out of a six-month-old puppy,
0:17:39 > 0:17:41and then implanted into Hugo,
0:17:41 > 0:17:45making it a fake identity microchip and Hugo's a fake.
0:17:47 > 0:17:51In Hugo's case, the fakers gave him the microchip of a six-month-old dog,
0:17:51 > 0:17:55to circumvent the system, and get the young pup into the country.
0:17:56 > 0:18:00The Dogs Trust is the UK's largest dog welfare charity.
0:18:00 > 0:18:03They're so concerned about the trafficking of puppies with fake identities,
0:18:03 > 0:18:06that they sent investigators to Eastern Europe
0:18:06 > 0:18:09to secretly film illegal breeders
0:18:09 > 0:18:12preparing puppies with microchips, ready for export.
0:18:12 > 0:18:16Many of the dogs destined for trafficking were being held in
0:18:16 > 0:18:21appalling conditions before embarking on their arduous journey to be sold.
0:18:23 > 0:18:24Paula Boyden is a qualified vet
0:18:24 > 0:18:27and veterinary director of the Dogs Trust.
0:18:27 > 0:18:30She's worried about the routine switching of microchips.
0:18:30 > 0:18:32So this is a microchip.
0:18:32 > 0:18:36You can see it's a little bigger than a grain of rice
0:18:36 > 0:18:40and it's amazing that something this small is actually leading
0:18:40 > 0:18:43onto the forgery of all of this information.
0:18:44 > 0:18:47It's worrying the whole microchip situation,
0:18:47 > 0:18:50which is a means to try and identify individuals,
0:18:50 > 0:18:52again, is being totally abused.
0:18:54 > 0:18:57Paula showed us some undercover footage of an illegal puppy breeder.
0:18:57 > 0:19:00What we've got here is one of our Hungarian breeders that was
0:19:00 > 0:19:03actually implanting a puppy with a microchip.
0:19:03 > 0:19:06But do these illegal breeders know what they're doing?
0:19:06 > 0:19:09DOG YELPS
0:19:09 > 0:19:12The puppy is certainly in some distress while she's doing that.
0:19:14 > 0:19:18Microchip implantations should only be done by a qualified vet
0:19:18 > 0:19:22but illegal breeders like this are prepared to teach other DIY breeders
0:19:22 > 0:19:26or, in this case, undercover investigators how to do it...
0:19:26 > 0:19:28If the price is right.
0:19:28 > 0:19:31We were given instructions of how to implant the microchip.
0:19:31 > 0:19:33Now from a veterinary surgeon's perspective,
0:19:33 > 0:19:35that's incredibly worrying.
0:19:35 > 0:19:38If we're implanting the microchip in-between the shoulder blades
0:19:38 > 0:19:40at the back of the next too deep,
0:19:40 > 0:19:43you're straight into the spinal canal and the implications of that, so...
0:19:43 > 0:19:46It's not easy and in particular if you're dealing with a small puppy,
0:19:46 > 0:19:48perhaps one that's wriggling,
0:19:48 > 0:19:53very easily in untrained hands could cause significant damage.
0:19:53 > 0:19:57By swapping microchips from dog to dog, illegal breeders
0:19:57 > 0:20:00aren't just changing the ages of trafficked puppies,
0:20:00 > 0:20:03they're faking where they come from to make them more desirable.
0:20:08 > 0:20:10Microchips do seem to be a bit of a commodity.
0:20:10 > 0:20:14We came across one breeder who was quite happy to insert
0:20:14 > 0:20:18an Hungarian chip but for a premium they would insert either
0:20:18 > 0:20:20an Irish or a German microchip.
0:20:20 > 0:20:21DOGS BARK
0:20:21 > 0:20:25Irish or German registered microchips are more highly prized than
0:20:25 > 0:20:29those from Eastern Europe as buyers often assume Irish or German puppies
0:20:29 > 0:20:32are in better condition, with a better lineage.
0:20:32 > 0:20:35By swapping microchips around,
0:20:35 > 0:20:38this puppy identity faker is making a killing.
0:20:38 > 0:20:40This one individual's responsible for almost 1,000 puppies
0:20:40 > 0:20:42a year coming into the UK.
0:20:42 > 0:20:45An individual bringing five puppies a week into the UK,
0:20:45 > 0:20:48could easily be making in excess of £100,000 per year.
0:20:49 > 0:20:53Paula simulated how to fake a puppy's identity with a helping
0:20:53 > 0:20:55paw from lurcher puppy, Twirl.
0:20:55 > 0:20:58So this is our fake passport.
0:20:58 > 0:21:00We've already the certification for rabies
0:21:00 > 0:21:03vaccination, for tapeworm treatment.
0:21:03 > 0:21:08This is the microchip that relates to this passport.
0:21:08 > 0:21:12All I need to do would be to go between
0:21:12 > 0:21:14Twirl's shoulder blades,
0:21:14 > 0:21:17pinch her skin, implant the microchip
0:21:17 > 0:21:21and then Twirl has a completely new identity.
0:21:22 > 0:21:25And there's a risk of disease to the British public from trafficked
0:21:25 > 0:21:28puppies that haven't have their vaccinations.
0:21:28 > 0:21:31A worry disease is a tapeworm called Echinococcus.
0:21:31 > 0:21:34Now again this is zoonotic, it can affect you and I.
0:21:34 > 0:21:37It really is quite a nasty disease.
0:21:37 > 0:21:40The tapeworm will insist in organs, such as the liver, which will
0:21:40 > 0:21:44significantly affect an individual's quality of life and their lifespan.
0:21:44 > 0:21:47Echinococcus is already kicking at the shores of France
0:21:47 > 0:21:50and again it's not a disease that we want to have in the country.
0:21:50 > 0:21:53Some diseases have already reached our shores.
0:21:53 > 0:21:57There was an outbreak of distemper in the UK last year,
0:21:57 > 0:21:58which we haven't seen for years.
0:21:58 > 0:22:01That was traced back to puppies coming into the UK from Eastern Europe.
0:22:01 > 0:22:05There's a massive welfare impact for the puppies involved,
0:22:05 > 0:22:07let alone the sorts of journeys they're undertaking,
0:22:07 > 0:22:0940 hours by road to get to the UK
0:22:09 > 0:22:11and the conditions they're bred in, as well.
0:22:14 > 0:22:17Back at the kennels, it's a big day for Sharon.
0:22:17 > 0:22:21- Hiya, Meg.- The big day's come. - I know, I can't wait!
0:22:21 > 0:22:26She's about to be reunited with puppy Hugo after a five-week wait.
0:22:26 > 0:22:29Hugo!
0:22:29 > 0:22:32Hello, baby.
0:22:32 > 0:22:34Hello.
0:22:34 > 0:22:36Hello, gorgeous.
0:22:36 > 0:22:38Don't you smell gorgeous. Have you had a bath?
0:22:40 > 0:22:42When you think of all the problems
0:22:42 > 0:22:45- and all the upset and it's caused by that little, tiny thing.- Yeah.
0:22:45 > 0:22:49- It's just unbelievable, isn't it? - Definitely.
0:22:49 > 0:22:52We can now register him officially with Petlogs,
0:22:52 > 0:22:56so then he's now registered to me and will be our dog forever.
0:22:56 > 0:22:59- And he's not a fake any more. - And he's no longer a fake.
0:23:00 > 0:23:02I can't wait to get him home now.
0:23:02 > 0:23:06This is what makes it all worthwhile when they are reunited.
0:23:06 > 0:23:09It's just a shame they've had to go through so much
0:23:09 > 0:23:11to get their baby back.
0:23:21 > 0:23:24Male grooming is booming.
0:23:24 > 0:23:28Over 160 million quid is spent every year on the bestselling
0:23:28 > 0:23:32brand of razor alone, all in the pursuit of a smoother,
0:23:32 > 0:23:36closer cut-free shave but if you were spending your money on these,
0:23:36 > 0:23:37you'd be in trouble
0:23:37 > 0:23:40because you've just had a close shave with the fakers.
0:23:42 > 0:23:45Gillette razors are one of Britain's biggest and best selling
0:23:45 > 0:23:49brands of disposable, wet razor.
0:23:49 > 0:23:51Since they hit our shelves in 1980...
0:23:51 > 0:23:54# ..the best a man can get... #
0:23:54 > 0:23:58100 million Gillette blades are now sold each year in Britain.
0:23:58 > 0:24:02Made for men but also borrowed by wives, girlfriends and daughters,
0:24:02 > 0:24:06Mach blades are amongst the country's most shop-lifted items.
0:24:06 > 0:24:10They don't come cheap, they're around £10 for a pack of four.
0:24:11 > 0:24:14And the fakers want a slice of the profits...
0:24:14 > 0:24:18..as lifelong wet shaver Andy Green discovered.
0:24:18 > 0:24:20I do spend a lot of money on blades.
0:24:20 > 0:24:24I always try to buy the latest blade innovation, if you like.
0:24:27 > 0:24:31One day Andy received an e-mail from an established online retailer
0:24:31 > 0:24:34offering him nine Gillette Mach 3 blades, with a razor handle,
0:24:34 > 0:24:36for 15 quid.
0:24:36 > 0:24:39It was a few pounds less than he'd expected to pay on the high street.
0:24:39 > 0:24:42So Andy bought them.
0:24:42 > 0:24:44When the blades arrived the packaging looked fine.
0:24:44 > 0:24:47I had no cause to assume that there was anything wrong with them.
0:24:47 > 0:24:49The company I bought them from,
0:24:49 > 0:24:52I've bought from before and have been very happy with my purchases.
0:24:52 > 0:24:55Andy didn't give the razor blades a second thought
0:24:55 > 0:24:57until the morning of his next shave.
0:24:57 > 0:25:01So I opened the packet, put the fresh blade in the handle.
0:25:01 > 0:25:02I lathered my face
0:25:02 > 0:25:05and I started to shave.
0:25:07 > 0:25:08But...there was a catch.
0:25:10 > 0:25:14I noticed immediately it was tugging and it was tearing at my skin,
0:25:14 > 0:25:16at my hairs and I just had to stop immediately.
0:25:16 > 0:25:18I knew there was something wrong.
0:25:18 > 0:25:20The blades weren't cutting it.
0:25:22 > 0:25:24When you are having your hairs tugged,
0:25:24 > 0:25:27rather than cut out of your face, it is quite a painful experience.
0:25:29 > 0:25:32The feel of the blades I was using was really uncomfortable.
0:25:32 > 0:25:35Compare that to the blade I was used to
0:25:35 > 0:25:38and the blade I was expecting, which gives a nice, smooth,
0:25:38 > 0:25:41lubricated cut, this was nothing like that.
0:25:41 > 0:25:44Andy's not wet behind the ears.
0:25:44 > 0:25:47Years of shaving told him something just wasn't right.
0:25:48 > 0:25:51My feelings were one of anger, having been sold blades that
0:25:51 > 0:25:55weren't fit for purpose and they could quite easily have cut me.
0:25:55 > 0:25:59There was only one thing for it, Andy sent the razor blades
0:25:59 > 0:26:03to Procter and Gamble, who manufacture Gillette razor blades.
0:26:03 > 0:26:06They stated that these razor blades were, indeed, fake.
0:26:06 > 0:26:08I was really angry.
0:26:08 > 0:26:11I'm quite shocked that these fake razor blades are being sold online.
0:26:11 > 0:26:15They were a bit cheaper than retail but not enough to make me
0:26:15 > 0:26:17think they were dodgy or fake.
0:26:17 > 0:26:21Fake Britain wanted to know what a shaving expert would
0:26:21 > 0:26:24make of the fake razor blades that Andy bought.
0:26:24 > 0:26:28We took some identical fake blades to Parsa Rad,
0:26:28 > 0:26:32whose shaving skills are a cut above those of the average male groomer.
0:26:32 > 0:26:35He's been crowned Britain's Fastest Wet Shaver.
0:26:35 > 0:26:38He can shave a man in under a minute.
0:26:38 > 0:26:42Parsa uses only the sharpest, genuine blades.
0:26:42 > 0:26:44About the fakes, he's pretty blunt.
0:26:44 > 0:26:48It's just been completely split in two
0:26:48 > 0:26:51and the blades are uneven, as well.
0:26:51 > 0:26:54They're going to catch the skin and strip the skin off.
0:26:54 > 0:26:55So...
0:26:55 > 0:26:57We shall see.
0:26:57 > 0:26:59And Fake Britain did want to see.
0:26:59 > 0:27:03So we asked Parsa to put the fake razor blades to the test,
0:27:03 > 0:27:07alongside the real ones with a bit of help from our beardy assistant.
0:27:07 > 0:27:10The right side of our brave subject's face will be shaved with
0:27:10 > 0:27:13a genuine blade and the left side with the fake.
0:27:14 > 0:27:17First up, Parsa gets to grips with the genuine razor blade.
0:27:17 > 0:27:21It's very smooth and you can see the result how it's taking all
0:27:21 > 0:27:22the beard off.
0:27:22 > 0:27:25It's without any damage to the skin.
0:27:28 > 0:27:30What about the fake?
0:27:30 > 0:27:33I have to be very, very careful and gentle. It's already pulling.
0:27:33 > 0:27:36You can see that they're not shaving everything off.
0:27:36 > 0:27:39It's an immediate fail for this fake blade.
0:27:39 > 0:27:41It's a grazer, not a razor.
0:27:41 > 0:27:43It's not even shaving.
0:27:43 > 0:27:46If I'm going to push it from here, the client will start jumping.
0:27:46 > 0:27:50You can see that's a very big difference.
0:27:50 > 0:27:53Even when I'm stretching the skin, it just leaves the beard behind.
0:27:53 > 0:27:55The quality of the shave on this side,
0:27:55 > 0:27:58it's a very huge difference to the other side.
0:28:00 > 0:28:03Parsa is left having to tidy up Fake Britain's rather patchy
0:28:03 > 0:28:06researcher with his own cut-throat razor.
0:28:09 > 0:28:12I would definitely not recommend these to use at home
0:28:12 > 0:28:14because they're quite dangerous.
0:28:15 > 0:28:19Fake Britain wanted to find out more about the international trade in fake
0:28:19 > 0:28:23razor blades so we spoke to Francis Chalk from Bristol Trading Standards.
0:28:23 > 0:28:27He's been leading an investigation into a woman called Jocelyn Hunter
0:28:27 > 0:28:32and one of the country's largest fake razor blades cases.
0:28:32 > 0:28:35What Jocelyn Hunter was doing was acting as the middleman,
0:28:35 > 0:28:38or go-between, between the factories in China
0:28:38 > 0:28:41and the eventual customers in Europe, such as other retailers
0:28:41 > 0:28:45in places like Germany, Italy, Lithuania, Poland
0:28:45 > 0:28:50and it was seen as a lot easier to get goods into the UK first
0:28:50 > 0:28:52and then export them out into Europe,
0:28:52 > 0:28:55rather than send them from China directly into Europe.
0:28:56 > 0:28:59But Francis' team was onto Hunter.
0:28:59 > 0:29:01They intercepted a shipment of fake razor blades
0:29:01 > 0:29:03at Coventry Postal Hub,
0:29:03 > 0:29:06which led them to a suburban street in Wiltshire.
0:29:06 > 0:29:10We were surprised by the sheer volume of fake razor blades
0:29:10 > 0:29:14that were basically being controlled from one small house in Swindon
0:29:14 > 0:29:16and exported into Europe.
0:29:18 > 0:29:20The kind of quantity that Jocelyn was handling
0:29:20 > 0:29:23can be seen around me here. We've got 46 parcels here
0:29:23 > 0:29:27and there's one e-mail which talks about almost 200,000 boxes
0:29:27 > 0:29:32which we conservatively have estimated a value of £2.5 million.
0:29:32 > 0:29:36What Jocelyn was doing was sending out up to £2.5 million
0:29:36 > 0:29:39of fake razor blades into Europe.
0:29:40 > 0:29:43It was one of the largest seizures of fake razor blades
0:29:43 > 0:29:46ever made in the UK.
0:29:46 > 0:29:49And Hunter had devised a clever system to cover up her
0:29:49 > 0:29:52import/export business.
0:29:52 > 0:29:55The boxes themselves were addressed to the name of the eventual
0:29:55 > 0:29:59customer in Europe and the address used was the address in Swindon
0:29:59 > 0:30:01of a friend, or family member.
0:30:01 > 0:30:04There were five or six in total and Jocelyn seemed
0:30:04 > 0:30:08to be paying them £5 for each box they received.
0:30:09 > 0:30:12It wasn't just the scale of the operation that was impressive.
0:30:12 > 0:30:16The quality of the packaging of the fake blades was like nothing
0:30:16 > 0:30:18Trading Standards had even seen before.
0:30:18 > 0:30:21So this is a fake set of blades in my right hand.
0:30:21 > 0:30:24In my left hand I've got a genuine set of blades.
0:30:24 > 0:30:27When you look at the packaging, it's very difficult to tell them apart.
0:30:27 > 0:30:31And if you saw that in isolation, you would never know that was fake.
0:30:31 > 0:30:36And the faker's attention to detail continued beneath the packaging.
0:30:36 > 0:30:39I've got the fake blades in my right hand.
0:30:39 > 0:30:42Here I've got the genuine blades.
0:30:42 > 0:30:45The quality of these fakes is very, very good.
0:30:45 > 0:30:47It does really take an expert to tell them apart.
0:30:47 > 0:30:49To the untrained eye, you'd never be able to tell
0:30:49 > 0:30:52the difference between them and the real thing.
0:30:52 > 0:30:57You do have to be almost impressed that they are such good copies.
0:30:57 > 0:31:00Hunter was shipping not only fake Gillette Fusion blades
0:31:00 > 0:31:02but also Mach 3 blades.
0:31:02 > 0:31:05No-one knows how many might have fallen into the hands
0:31:05 > 0:31:07of British consumers.
0:31:07 > 0:31:12Trading Standards finally had enough evidence to arrest and charge Hunter.
0:31:12 > 0:31:15Francis Chalk was at court for the final verdict.
0:31:15 > 0:31:18I've just come from Swindon Crown Court where Jocelyn Hunter
0:31:18 > 0:31:21has been sentenced to 15 months for selling fake razor blades.
0:31:21 > 0:31:24It really does reflect the gravity of the offences that she was
0:31:24 > 0:31:27involved in, selling these fake products that could
0:31:27 > 0:31:30potentially be dangerous and also insanitary.
0:31:31 > 0:31:35These fake razor blades were seized before they could do any damage.
0:31:35 > 0:31:40But Fake Britain wanted to find out how easy it might be to buy others.
0:31:40 > 0:31:44We bought 32 Gillette Fusion Power cartridges from an internet
0:31:44 > 0:31:47seller for around £45.
0:31:47 > 0:31:51A tempting bargain at around half the price of the high street.
0:31:52 > 0:31:56We sent the blades to James Williams at Procter and Gamble for analysis.
0:31:56 > 0:31:59He confirmed that the blades we bought were fake.
0:32:00 > 0:32:02On the back of the cartridge,
0:32:02 > 0:32:05there were a number of compression and pressure points
0:32:05 > 0:32:08where we believe it was hand pressed versus the real Gillette razor blade,
0:32:08 > 0:32:11which would be machine pressed. Something you'd never find on the real razor blade
0:32:11 > 0:32:14because that impacts the quality of the shave.
0:32:14 > 0:32:18There's only one way to see the real difference between
0:32:18 > 0:32:20our fake blades and the genuine article.
0:32:20 > 0:32:24Under 1,000 times magnification on an electron microscope,
0:32:24 > 0:32:25the difference is stark.
0:32:25 > 0:32:29What you see is the real Gillette razor blade here with a clean,
0:32:29 > 0:32:32consistent and razor-sharp edge that's actually thinner than
0:32:32 > 0:32:35a surgeon's scalpel, as opposed to on the counterfeit,
0:32:35 > 0:32:40we see this, jagged, uneven edge which is going to give a very
0:32:40 > 0:32:43poor shave, potentially unsafe shave.
0:32:43 > 0:32:47Much more chance of nicks, cuts and effect on the skin
0:32:47 > 0:32:49when using the shave.
0:32:49 > 0:32:50I think when you see this razor blade,
0:32:50 > 0:32:53people will be shocked at what they might be able to get hold of
0:32:53 > 0:32:55if they buy a counterfeit product.
0:32:55 > 0:32:57It looks dangerous and it is dangerous.
0:32:57 > 0:32:59You wouldn't want to shave with this.
0:32:59 > 0:33:03We sent our fake razor blades for independent testing.
0:33:03 > 0:33:06The lab found traces of bacteria that they'd never expect
0:33:06 > 0:33:08to find on a sealed packet of genuine razor blades.
0:33:08 > 0:33:11Within our manufacturing facilities,
0:33:11 > 0:33:15everything is 100% guaranteed in terms of in a sterile environment.
0:33:15 > 0:33:17We cannot guarantee those same conditions
0:33:17 > 0:33:19for the counterfeit products.
0:33:19 > 0:33:22We don't know where they're made, the conditions in which they're made
0:33:22 > 0:33:25and this is clearly an issue of consumer safety.
0:33:27 > 0:33:29It's enough to make Andy think twice about where
0:33:29 > 0:33:32he gets his razors from now.
0:33:32 > 0:33:36If they contain bacteria and germs, and you cut yourself while shaving,
0:33:36 > 0:33:39that would leave you open to infection.
0:33:39 > 0:33:41Now I'm very wary about buying online
0:33:41 > 0:33:46and I will only buy from the high street or supermarkets.
0:33:51 > 0:33:55There are over 25 million cars on our roads and nearly all of them
0:33:55 > 0:33:58are fitted with these - brake pads.
0:33:58 > 0:34:01Without them, cars wouldn't be able to stop properly,
0:34:01 > 0:34:04they're a life-saver, hidden away behind the wheels.
0:34:04 > 0:34:07Most drivers probably don't give them a second thought
0:34:07 > 0:34:12but think about this, what if the brake pads on your car were fake,
0:34:12 > 0:34:15the consequences could be very serious indeed.
0:34:18 > 0:34:22It's early morning and Simon Austin from Trading Standards is
0:34:22 > 0:34:26leading his team on a joint operation with the police to arrest
0:34:26 > 0:34:29a suspected fake brake pad seller.
0:34:29 > 0:34:32This morning we're going to an address.
0:34:32 > 0:34:37We've got evidence to suggest that brake pads are being sold.
0:34:38 > 0:34:41Some of the brake pads are being sold as branded products.
0:34:42 > 0:34:46They are advertised online as being for very various makes
0:34:46 > 0:34:50and models of cars, like Ford Focus brake pads etc..
0:34:50 > 0:34:54We believe that they are potentially unsafe as they're not marked
0:34:54 > 0:34:58correctly and therefore we are interested in getting
0:34:58 > 0:35:00hold of these and getting them off the market.
0:35:00 > 0:35:04Fake brake pads can endanger the lives of motorists.
0:35:04 > 0:35:06You need your car to be able to stop
0:35:06 > 0:35:09and if the brake pads haven't been tested accordingly,
0:35:09 > 0:35:12the worst outcome is that someone can have a serious accident.
0:35:13 > 0:35:15The officers arrive at the address.
0:35:19 > 0:35:22- Good morning. Is Mr- BLEEP- here?
0:35:22 > 0:35:26We're from Trading Standards and we've got some police officers here.
0:35:26 > 0:35:29Simon is told that the suspect is still in bed.
0:35:29 > 0:35:32I'm going to have to speak to him.
0:35:32 > 0:35:35If you can get him up for me that will be great.
0:35:36 > 0:35:39A few minutes later there's still no sign of him.
0:35:40 > 0:35:43The officers have no option but to go in.
0:35:50 > 0:35:53It turns out the suspect is now in the shower.
0:35:54 > 0:35:57Finally, Simon gets his man.
0:35:57 > 0:36:00We're here because we've got reason to believe that
0:36:00 > 0:36:02you are involved in the sale and supply of brake pads.
0:36:02 > 0:36:06I'm going to have to get these officers to take you into custody
0:36:06 > 0:36:09for today and we've got a warrant to search the premises.
0:36:11 > 0:36:15The suspect is taken to the police station for questioning.
0:36:15 > 0:36:19Now it's time to search the property for illegal brake pads.
0:36:21 > 0:36:25Genuine, legal, brake pads should carry a laser etched
0:36:25 > 0:36:29regulation 90 or R90 marking like this.
0:36:29 > 0:36:32It's a European safety standard for brake pads covering key areas
0:36:32 > 0:36:36like how they perform and how the packaging is marked up.
0:36:36 > 0:36:38OK.
0:36:38 > 0:36:40Shall we go and look in the garage?
0:36:40 > 0:36:42Well, that's certainly where I would look.
0:36:47 > 0:36:49Just a few.
0:36:52 > 0:36:53Nothing.
0:36:53 > 0:36:55That is not compliant.
0:36:55 > 0:36:59That's a brake pad with no markings on it.
0:37:02 > 0:37:06The brake pads that they find are really worrying.
0:37:06 > 0:37:08Here we've got a blank box.
0:37:08 > 0:37:11The requirements are that it should have a tamper evident seal over it
0:37:11 > 0:37:14and some information on the side. This number is not sufficient.
0:37:14 > 0:37:16If we open up the box...
0:37:17 > 0:37:20Even though they are individually wrapped, there is
0:37:20 > 0:37:23no markings which appear on the actual brake pad themselves.
0:37:25 > 0:37:28So we believe these ones, potentially,
0:37:28 > 0:37:30have not been tested and could be unsafe and dangerous.
0:37:30 > 0:37:34Non-compliant brake pads might not have the stopping distance,
0:37:34 > 0:37:38they might overheat and that's why we need to get them off the market.
0:37:38 > 0:37:40There's a mixture of brake pads here
0:37:40 > 0:37:43but not as many as the team expected.
0:37:43 > 0:37:47They're wondering where the rest are being stored.
0:37:47 > 0:37:50The officers have a lead as to where the other brake pads might be
0:37:50 > 0:37:54so Steve Rycraft makes his way over to a second address.
0:37:54 > 0:37:58My suspicion is that he's making more profit by selling
0:37:58 > 0:38:01the product which isn't legitimate.
0:38:02 > 0:38:06I suspect the products we'll find will be
0:38:06 > 0:38:08mainly unmarked items.
0:38:10 > 0:38:14Once in, Steve finds piles of suspect packages.
0:38:14 > 0:38:16So these pallets here...
0:38:16 > 0:38:20- These four pallets.- These pallets here, everything here in a line.
0:38:20 > 0:38:23It's a huge horde, hundreds of boxes,
0:38:23 > 0:38:26exactly what Trading Standards have been looking for.
0:38:26 > 0:38:30This is what we're interested in, these items here.
0:38:32 > 0:38:35It's clear these brake pads are being sold on the internet
0:38:35 > 0:38:36as the genuine item.
0:38:38 > 0:38:42The listings are saying that these are Ford Focus brake pads
0:38:42 > 0:38:47which would mislead a consumer into believing that they are produced by
0:38:47 > 0:38:51the company and therefore would be safe and would be made
0:38:51 > 0:38:54in accordance with the high standards that you would expect.
0:38:54 > 0:38:58Obviously, these are clearly not produced by Ford.
0:38:59 > 0:39:02Time to break the good news to the rest of the team
0:39:02 > 0:39:05and figure out how to shift this load.
0:39:05 > 0:39:07All of the brake pads here are of the ones we're looking for.
0:39:07 > 0:39:10We're not going to get all of this in my vehicle.
0:39:12 > 0:39:16This is what over one tonne of brake pads looks like.
0:39:16 > 0:39:2061, 62, 63, 64, 65.
0:39:20 > 0:39:23So 650 sets of brake pads.
0:39:25 > 0:39:27Good.
0:39:27 > 0:39:29Now it's time for some heavy lifting.
0:39:29 > 0:39:32The brake pads will be loaded up
0:39:32 > 0:39:35and later taken to a secure storage facility.
0:39:35 > 0:39:37That's a really good result.
0:39:37 > 0:39:40That's brake pads which are off the market which won't be put
0:39:40 > 0:39:43into vehicles, which are unsafe then.
0:39:43 > 0:39:47We're protecting the consumers by taking these off the market.
0:39:50 > 0:39:53Fake brake pads previously seized by other Trading Standards in the UK,
0:39:53 > 0:39:56such as these would be Volkswagen ones,
0:39:56 > 0:39:59have been tested with worrying results.
0:39:59 > 0:40:02Ian Featherstone is the technical manager
0:40:02 > 0:40:04with brake pad manufacturers TMD.
0:40:04 > 0:40:07The purpose of the test we're carrying out today
0:40:07 > 0:40:09is to see if the stopping distance of the fake pads,
0:40:09 > 0:40:12compared to the genuine equipment that should be fitted in these
0:40:12 > 0:40:14parts, is significantly different.
0:40:14 > 0:40:18The car will make three high-speed stops in quick succession.
0:40:18 > 0:40:22The crucial stop being the third one when the pads have worn down.
0:40:23 > 0:40:25What we're going to do,
0:40:25 > 0:40:28is we're going to run 100km an hour down to zero at maximum
0:40:28 > 0:40:31deceleration possible, which means that the driver will be
0:40:31 > 0:40:34hitting the brake pedal with the maximum effort possible.
0:40:34 > 0:40:36Then we will see the difference in the stopping
0:40:36 > 0:40:38performance of the two materials.
0:40:41 > 0:40:43The genuine brake pads are tested first.
0:40:43 > 0:40:47They're the same ones used in millions of Volkswagen cars across the world.
0:40:47 > 0:40:49The car performs two stops.
0:40:51 > 0:40:53And then the crucial third one.
0:40:59 > 0:41:02The onboard computer measures the exact stopping distance.
0:41:04 > 0:41:07Ian gets the results for the genuine brake pads.
0:41:07 > 0:41:11You can see that the first stop we had 41.9 metres.
0:41:11 > 0:41:13Stop three we had 40.9 metres.
0:41:13 > 0:41:16Effectively we've seen no change in the stopping power
0:41:16 > 0:41:18between those three stops.
0:41:18 > 0:41:20No change at all with the genuine material.
0:41:20 > 0:41:25How will the performance of the fake brake pads compare?
0:41:25 > 0:41:28They're fitted to the car which is then put through exactly
0:41:28 > 0:41:30the same test.
0:41:32 > 0:41:35Two preliminary stops at 100 kilometres an hour
0:41:35 > 0:41:39and then the all-important third one.
0:41:45 > 0:41:48The difference in braking distance between the real
0:41:48 > 0:41:51and fake pads is clear to the naked eye
0:41:51 > 0:41:54but the real proof is in the distances measured
0:41:54 > 0:41:56by the onboard computer.
0:41:56 > 0:41:59If you look at the fake product, tested on the same vehicle to the
0:41:59 > 0:42:03same conditions, stop three with a genuine material
0:42:03 > 0:42:05we had 40.9 metres.
0:42:05 > 0:42:08Stop three with the fake material we had 55 metres.
0:42:08 > 0:42:12Again, almost 15 metres of difference.
0:42:12 > 0:42:14It's a massive difference.
0:42:14 > 0:42:18When you consider 15 metres is approximately 40 some feet,
0:42:18 > 0:42:21that's a queue lining up for a bus stop, or it's three cars.
0:42:21 > 0:42:25It is a long way just in three applications.
0:42:25 > 0:42:27The worst-case scenario with these pads is you could be
0:42:27 > 0:42:30driving down the motorway at 70mph and go for your brakes
0:42:30 > 0:42:32in an emergency situation and you wouldn't be able to stop.
0:42:32 > 0:42:34First and foremost, it's safety critical
0:42:34 > 0:42:36and there is a danger for life.
0:42:36 > 0:42:38I think that's quite clear from what we've seen today.
0:42:40 > 0:42:42Back with the team from Trading Standards,
0:42:42 > 0:42:46the fake brake pads they've seized are currently undergoing testing.
0:42:46 > 0:42:48The case continues.
0:42:54 > 0:42:56That's all from Fake Britain.
0:42:56 > 0:42:58Goodbye.