0:00:02 > 0:00:06Welcome to a world where nothing is quite as it seems.
0:00:06 > 0:00:07Welcome to Fake Britain.
0:00:09 > 0:00:10Police!
0:00:21 > 0:00:25- Get down!- Put your hands behind your back, now!
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 > 0:00:37We'll investigate the fraudsters, who are selling us something that
0:00:37 > 0:00:40isn'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 > 0:00:52We reveal the scandal of fake part worn tyres that are a crash
0:00:52 > 0:00:53waiting to happen.
0:00:53 > 0:00:56I could have killed anybody that got in my car.
0:00:57 > 0:01:01We expose the fake face mask filters putting workers' lives at risk.
0:01:01 > 0:01:04This is one of the worst masks I've ever seen.
0:01:04 > 0:01:07And we investigate the counterfeit games controllers packing
0:01:07 > 0:01:09a potentially shocking punch.
0:01:09 > 0:01:11I mean, that's pretty terrifying.
0:01:11 > 0:01:14You're taking the risk of something exploding in your hands
0:01:14 > 0:01:16and actually damaging you for life.
0:01:22 > 0:01:25Running a car can be very expensive.
0:01:25 > 0:01:30You've got road tax, insurance, servicing and, of course, the fuel,
0:01:30 > 0:01:34so it's tempting to try and save money wherever we can.
0:01:34 > 0:01:39A new tyre can cost well over £100, so you might opt for this -
0:01:39 > 0:01:43a part worn tyre. Much cheaper, they're subject to strict
0:01:43 > 0:01:45regulations and inspections,
0:01:45 > 0:01:50and they are legal to sell, except this one isn't because it's a fake.
0:01:50 > 0:01:53We've discovered that dangerous fakes like this
0:01:53 > 0:01:57are on sale all over the country and they are putting lives risk.
0:02:00 > 0:02:05Like many of us, mum of four Gina Gee relies on her car to get around.
0:02:06 > 0:02:09I use my car on a day-to-day basis.
0:02:09 > 0:02:13I take my kids to school, I take my mum to and from work.
0:02:13 > 0:02:17I'm a home carer, so I have the lady I look after in my car as well,
0:02:17 > 0:02:19so I use my car every day.
0:02:20 > 0:02:22But also, like many of us,
0:02:22 > 0:02:25she finds keeping it on the road an expensive business.
0:02:26 > 0:02:29So, when her tyres needed replacing, she opted for the most
0:02:29 > 0:02:31economical way of doing it.
0:02:31 > 0:02:33I've only been driving for just over a year,
0:02:33 > 0:02:37so it's the first time I've had to buy tyres.
0:02:37 > 0:02:39Because I needed more than one tyre replacing,
0:02:39 > 0:02:44I chose to go for part worn tyres. My partner told me where to go.
0:02:44 > 0:02:50I went down there and they put part worn tyres on my car,
0:02:50 > 0:02:51which were cheaper.
0:02:53 > 0:02:56Whilst new tyres for Gina's can cost well over £100 each,
0:02:56 > 0:03:00part-worns can start from as little as a tenner.
0:03:00 > 0:03:02It's a similar story for most makes and models.
0:03:03 > 0:03:08The sale of tyres is governed by the Motor Vehicle Tyres Regulations Act -
0:03:08 > 0:03:12this sets standards such as minimum tread depth and repairs.
0:03:14 > 0:03:17Part worn tyre dealers are responsible for making these safety
0:03:17 > 0:03:21checks and that's exactly what genuine ones like this do,
0:03:21 > 0:03:24showing they've done so by marking the tyre wall
0:03:24 > 0:03:26with an indelible white stamp.
0:03:28 > 0:03:30If the tyre doesn't meet those part worn safety standards,
0:03:30 > 0:03:32it's a fake.
0:03:32 > 0:03:35After all that, when a part worn tyre dealer puts their tyres on sale,
0:03:35 > 0:03:38they are declaring that they're safe,
0:03:38 > 0:03:41and that's exactly what Gina thought she was getting.
0:03:41 > 0:03:43I went in, they were very chatty,
0:03:43 > 0:03:45very bubbly, quite friendly down there.
0:03:47 > 0:03:49I had all four children with me,
0:03:49 > 0:03:52so I was then stood with four children in a garage.
0:03:52 > 0:03:56Obviously watching my children, not what was being done with my car.
0:03:56 > 0:04:00When she later took the car to another garage with a mechanical fault,
0:04:00 > 0:04:05he also looked at her tyres and was shocked by what he saw.
0:04:05 > 0:04:08He wasn't happy with me to drive away in the car.
0:04:08 > 0:04:10None of the tyres that they had put on were legal,
0:04:10 > 0:04:12none of them were safe.
0:04:13 > 0:04:15They were just really dangerous.
0:04:17 > 0:04:19Gina alerted the authorities
0:04:19 > 0:04:22and her tyres were passed to Trading Standards officer Dan Brown,
0:04:22 > 0:04:25who had already been investigating local dealers.
0:04:27 > 0:04:30He examined Gina's tyres and became concerned about the state
0:04:30 > 0:04:34they were in and how roadworthy they might be.
0:04:34 > 0:04:38Clearly here you can see a repair that has been done to a hole
0:04:38 > 0:04:42through the tyre, which is in an illegal position in the tyre,
0:04:42 > 0:04:47as it is in a dangerous position. Secondly, we have another tyre here.
0:04:47 > 0:04:51Again, from the same complainant. The tyre wall here has been damaged.
0:04:51 > 0:04:55And when under pressure conditions, this tyre was bulging out.
0:04:55 > 0:04:58Now, under road conditions,
0:04:58 > 0:05:01this could have potentially put somebody's life at risk.
0:05:01 > 0:05:04These tyres clearly haven't been checked - their safety -
0:05:04 > 0:05:07before they're sold to consumers.
0:05:07 > 0:05:09Gina's isn't an isolated case.
0:05:09 > 0:05:14Dan Brown has been investigating several local part worn tyre dealers.
0:05:14 > 0:05:16One of them, Luke McKenzie,
0:05:16 > 0:05:20was caught selling unsafe part worn tyres to unsuspecting motorists.
0:05:20 > 0:05:23He received a nine-month suspended sentence.
0:05:23 > 0:05:26These traders should not be, and cannot be, allowed to supply
0:05:26 > 0:05:29unsafe or fake part worn tyres
0:05:29 > 0:05:32that are putting members of the public...public's lives at risk.
0:05:34 > 0:05:37Every year, more than 1,200 motorists are injured in an accident
0:05:37 > 0:05:42where illegal, defective or under inflated tyres play a part.
0:05:46 > 0:05:51Gina was one of the lucky ones, she and her family escaped unscathed,
0:05:51 > 0:05:55but the realisation of what could have happened has hit her hard.
0:05:55 > 0:05:56Devastated...
0:05:56 > 0:06:00would be the best word to describe how I felt.
0:06:00 > 0:06:02I felt like I had put my kids at risk,
0:06:02 > 0:06:04and myself and anyone that had been in the car.
0:06:06 > 0:06:07(Sorry.)
0:06:09 > 0:06:10You blame yourself...
0:06:12 > 0:06:16..because I could have killed anybody that got in my car.
0:06:16 > 0:06:18And I thought it was safe, and it wasn't.
0:06:21 > 0:06:25But the blame lies squarely on the shoulders of the fakers.
0:06:27 > 0:06:30To find out just how dangerous fake part worn tyres can be,
0:06:30 > 0:06:33Fake Britain decided to put them to the test.
0:06:35 > 0:06:38Tyre expert and test driver Steve Dalby will get behind the
0:06:38 > 0:06:42wheel of a car that will be fitted with fake part worn tyres.
0:06:44 > 0:06:46But the damage on some of them is so bad
0:06:46 > 0:06:50the team are having a hard time even fitting one to the wheel.
0:06:50 > 0:06:53There's really a very dangerous damage on the side walls.
0:06:53 > 0:06:56And in order for us to keep an eye on this while we're fitting it,
0:06:56 > 0:06:59I'm just going to mark it with a yellow crayon.
0:07:03 > 0:07:06I'm going to stick it in a safety cage
0:07:06 > 0:07:09because I'm not confident that when we inflate the tyre it's going
0:07:09 > 0:07:14to inflate safely, as a new tyre or a normal tyre would.
0:07:14 > 0:07:17I'll put it in that cage so that, if it does explode, we're safe.
0:07:18 > 0:07:22TYRE INFLATES
0:07:22 > 0:07:24I'm going to gently pull it out and have a look at it...
0:07:25 > 0:07:30..and you can see how horrific this bulge is on that tyre.
0:07:30 > 0:07:32And if that tyre was to go on a car and fail,
0:07:32 > 0:07:34I'm sure it would fail pretty quickly.
0:07:34 > 0:07:37- You want to put that on and run it?- No, I wouldn't, no.
0:07:37 > 0:07:41Even for Steve, this is too dangerous to drive.
0:07:44 > 0:07:47But with four tyres eventually fitted, he's ready to hit
0:07:47 > 0:07:52the road and find out just how fake their claims of roadworthiness are.
0:07:55 > 0:07:57As Steve heads to the track,
0:07:57 > 0:07:59the effects on handling become immediately obvious.
0:08:01 > 0:08:04Front end slides and the back end slides.
0:08:05 > 0:08:07Very difficult to control.
0:08:07 > 0:08:09Not much grip. Had enough of those.
0:08:11 > 0:08:15The main danger with illegal part worns is that their damage
0:08:15 > 0:08:19makes them leak air as they run and the tyre constantly loses pressure.
0:08:21 > 0:08:24So, to simulate the situation of a slow puncture, we are
0:08:24 > 0:08:27deflating one of the rear tyres to see how it would feel,
0:08:27 > 0:08:29as a typical driver, driving a part worn tyre
0:08:29 > 0:08:30that is gradually deflating.
0:08:33 > 0:08:37Now mimicking the state of most fake part worn tyres on the roads,
0:08:37 > 0:08:41performance becomes far more unpredictable and uncontrollable.
0:08:44 > 0:08:47Taking all of my concentration to stop the car from spinning,
0:08:47 > 0:08:50and already I can feel the back end is really sliding a lot.
0:08:50 > 0:08:53And nearly lost control completely there.
0:08:53 > 0:08:54TYRES SCREECH
0:08:54 > 0:08:56A little bit all over the place.
0:08:58 > 0:09:00It is really tricky to control.
0:09:02 > 0:09:05Steve is an experienced driver, but he's finding it hard to keep
0:09:05 > 0:09:08these fake part worn tyres on the track.
0:09:08 > 0:09:10- BLEEP- hell!
0:09:10 > 0:09:12Who knows what sort of trouble
0:09:12 > 0:09:14the average driver would find themselves in.
0:09:14 > 0:09:16Oh, there it goes.
0:09:20 > 0:09:22A complete spin out.
0:09:23 > 0:09:26I wouldn't like at all to have this sort of tyre on my car.
0:09:28 > 0:09:32A recent national study found a staggering 98% of part worn
0:09:32 > 0:09:35tyres have been sold illegally
0:09:35 > 0:09:39and over a third of those had potentially dangerous damage.
0:09:39 > 0:09:41As far as Gina is concerned,
0:09:41 > 0:09:45the fakers are putting innocent motorists' lives at risk.
0:09:45 > 0:09:48It is like they don't care whose lives they are putting in danger.
0:09:48 > 0:09:52The fact that they can get away with putting dangerous tyres
0:09:52 > 0:09:53on people's cars like that,
0:09:53 > 0:09:56knowing they have got people going into those cars, little children,
0:09:56 > 0:10:00elderly people, I don't know how they can sleep at night-time.
0:10:00 > 0:10:01It is disgusting.
0:10:03 > 0:10:06But the problem isn't simply confined to a handful of dealers.
0:10:06 > 0:10:10It's an epidemic that reaches right across the country.
0:10:10 > 0:10:14Later, we join those on the front line, as Trading Standards officers
0:10:14 > 0:10:18fight back, tackling the suspected fakers head-on.
0:10:19 > 0:10:21We have looked at it and it doesn't appear to be safe.
0:10:21 > 0:10:22We have to seize it.
0:10:28 > 0:10:32As a nation, we are obsessed by design, from kettles to cars,
0:10:32 > 0:10:36from phones to furniture and, not forgetting, kitchen gadgets.
0:10:36 > 0:10:39We want to spend our money on things that don't just work well,
0:10:39 > 0:10:41but also look great.
0:10:41 > 0:10:45Companies can spend years creating, perfecting and protecting
0:10:45 > 0:10:48their designs, but the fakers are always hot on their heels.
0:10:48 > 0:10:49Look at these.
0:10:49 > 0:10:53One of them is an innovative invention that has cracked
0:10:53 > 0:10:57a key task in the kitchen. The other is a fake that's a complete failure.
0:10:57 > 0:10:59Could you tell the difference?
0:11:03 > 0:11:05Design is the lifeblood of many businesses
0:11:05 > 0:11:08and countless millions are spent by companies every year trying to
0:11:08 > 0:11:13produce something that's new, fresh and which stands out from the crowd.
0:11:15 > 0:11:17And to come up with the next big thing,
0:11:17 > 0:11:20they turn to people like inventor and designer Mark Sanders.
0:11:22 > 0:11:26His success stories include the Strida folding bike.
0:11:26 > 0:11:28But we've seen before on Fake Britain
0:11:28 > 0:11:30how the fakers ripped off his design,
0:11:30 > 0:11:33turning it into a bone-shaking ride.
0:11:33 > 0:11:35The crank is incredibly loose.
0:11:35 > 0:11:38HE WINCES
0:11:39 > 0:11:41It seems as though the fakers are the biggest
0:11:41 > 0:11:44followers of his innovations because, as fast as this serial
0:11:44 > 0:11:48inventor can make it, it seems someone's out there faking it.
0:11:49 > 0:11:53Well, basically, everything on this side of the table are the
0:11:53 > 0:11:55authentic, genuine product
0:11:55 > 0:11:58and all these fellas are all copies.
0:11:58 > 0:12:00And a product like this one,
0:12:00 > 0:12:03which is a fully automatic jar opener,
0:12:03 > 0:12:06it simulates what your hands do
0:12:06 > 0:12:09when you both grip a lid and grip
0:12:09 > 0:12:12a jar and then twist in the opposite direction,
0:12:12 > 0:12:15like a robot would - fully automatic.
0:12:15 > 0:12:18CAN OPENER BUZZES
0:12:18 > 0:12:20And that was a real technical challenge,
0:12:20 > 0:12:23probably about a year's worth of development,
0:12:23 > 0:12:26and that was pretty much full-time.
0:12:27 > 0:12:30These products have taken Mark years to perfect,
0:12:30 > 0:12:33but the fakers are knocking out cheap copies in weeks that,
0:12:33 > 0:12:35on the surface, are virtually identical,
0:12:35 > 0:12:38like this automatic can opener.
0:12:38 > 0:12:41This one is the real one.
0:12:41 > 0:12:43This one is the fake.
0:12:43 > 0:12:47They've copied the mechanism as well, which has gone through many,
0:12:47 > 0:12:48many test cycles.
0:12:48 > 0:12:51We've got a very strong patent on that mechanism,
0:12:51 > 0:12:55but it hasn't prevented people just copying it completely.
0:12:57 > 0:13:00The fakers may think they've lifted the lid on Mark's design secrets,
0:13:00 > 0:13:03but without having put in his years of development,
0:13:03 > 0:13:07it's time to find out if it can rival the performance of the real thing.
0:13:08 > 0:13:11Let's try the genuine one.
0:13:11 > 0:13:14- Basically, you put it on the lid... - CAN OPENER BUZZES
0:13:14 > 0:13:18..and then it automatically walks around the can...
0:13:18 > 0:13:20opening the lid.
0:13:22 > 0:13:25- BUZZING CONTINUES - It gets to the end
0:13:25 > 0:13:29and it automatically shuts itself off.
0:13:29 > 0:13:34OK. And then you have the lid stuck to the opener,
0:13:34 > 0:13:37which you then flick in the bin.
0:13:37 > 0:13:40The real thing makes short work of the job.
0:13:40 > 0:13:42But can the fake cut it?
0:13:42 > 0:13:45The first thing we notice is that it's a lot louder.
0:13:47 > 0:13:50As you can see,
0:13:50 > 0:13:53although it looks the same, it doesn't work as well.
0:13:53 > 0:13:55Erm...
0:13:55 > 0:13:58It's gone about a quarter of the way around,
0:13:58 > 0:14:01the lid is still stuck on there,
0:14:01 > 0:14:04and somebody has just wasted
0:14:04 > 0:14:06a lot of money on this.
0:14:06 > 0:14:08That's fakes.
0:14:09 > 0:14:11The fakers may have copied the form,
0:14:11 > 0:14:15but by cutting corners the function simply doesn't deliver,
0:14:15 > 0:14:19and it's the same story with some of his other inventions.
0:14:19 > 0:14:21This is the real chopping board.
0:14:21 > 0:14:23You can grasp the handle and it forms a chute,
0:14:23 > 0:14:24so you don't miss the pan.
0:14:24 > 0:14:28Now, this looks the same, but if you compare the thickness of
0:14:28 > 0:14:31plastic, it's actually about half the thickness.
0:14:32 > 0:14:36Mark sold his original chopping board design to British
0:14:36 > 0:14:38kitchenware company Joseph Joseph,
0:14:38 > 0:14:42who now market the genuine article under their brand-name.
0:14:43 > 0:14:45They also have an in-house design team
0:14:45 > 0:14:48and innovative twists on kitchen classics,
0:14:48 > 0:14:51combined with a distinctive look, are how they've made their name.
0:14:53 > 0:14:56Like Mark, they've had their own designs counterfeited,
0:14:56 > 0:14:58but owner Richard Joseph has seen
0:14:58 > 0:15:02the scale of fakery here escalate.
0:15:02 > 0:15:06We've probably had 100 products faked that we know about.
0:15:07 > 0:15:11These are the ones that get copied the most.
0:15:11 > 0:15:14So, this is a fake lemon reamer
0:15:14 > 0:15:16and this is the original.
0:15:16 > 0:15:19Now, you can see they're virtually identical.
0:15:19 > 0:15:21This is one of our "Elevate" tools.
0:15:21 > 0:15:23That's the original.
0:15:23 > 0:15:24That's the fake.
0:15:24 > 0:15:27The key design feature in this is it's got a foot that we've put
0:15:27 > 0:15:29into the handle, so when you're picking it up
0:15:29 > 0:15:32and putting it down on the countertop, it keeps the head of
0:15:32 > 0:15:35ladle off the countertop and basically makes it hygienic.
0:15:35 > 0:15:38With the fake product, when you place this on the table,
0:15:38 > 0:15:41the head actually comes into contact with the table
0:15:41 > 0:15:44and that means it's a product that doesn't work.
0:15:45 > 0:15:48In fact, it seems as though the fakers are flooding the market
0:15:48 > 0:15:51with their knock-offs.
0:15:51 > 0:15:54If you put in "Index Chopping Boards",
0:15:54 > 0:15:58a trademark name, you have 8...9...
0:15:58 > 0:16:0210, 11, 12...
0:16:02 > 0:16:08I'll carry on. 13 companies, just there, that are producing copies.
0:16:08 > 0:16:11They're all infringing our trademark
0:16:11 > 0:16:14and claiming it as their own, and selling either direct copies,
0:16:14 > 0:16:18direct fakes or versions of.
0:16:18 > 0:16:20Fakery has cost us millions of pounds over the years.
0:16:20 > 0:16:23It was affecting the business so badly we decided to
0:16:23 > 0:16:25bring in our legal counsel to deal with
0:16:25 > 0:16:28the problem we had is on an international scale.
0:16:28 > 0:16:31In 2010, in that single year, we spent more money on protecting
0:16:31 > 0:16:33our intellectual property and tackling
0:16:33 > 0:16:36the copiers than we did on design.
0:16:36 > 0:16:39Perhaps their most faked product is this set of eight stacking bowls
0:16:39 > 0:16:42and measuring cups, known as the Nest Eight.
0:16:42 > 0:16:46So, here we have the original Joseph Joseph Nest Eight
0:16:46 > 0:16:48and here is the fake.
0:16:48 > 0:16:51And, as you can see, they're virtually identical.
0:16:51 > 0:16:54One thing that isn't identical is the price.
0:16:54 > 0:16:57Whilst the real thing retails for around £35,
0:16:57 > 0:17:00the fake generally costs £20 or less.
0:17:00 > 0:17:03And as at first glance they look the same, for many people,
0:17:03 > 0:17:06it appears as though that can be the deciding factor.
0:17:07 > 0:17:09£20 because it's the same.
0:17:09 > 0:17:12- I'd take the £20. - I'll go for the £20 ones.
0:17:12 > 0:17:16They look exactly the same, so probably the cheapest one.
0:17:16 > 0:17:19- Well, I'd obviously picked the £20 one.- Saving £15.
0:17:21 > 0:17:24They may look the same, but the counterfeit contains
0:17:24 > 0:17:26a very unwelcome addition because some of
0:17:26 > 0:17:29what the fakers are serving up has the potential to make you
0:17:29 > 0:17:32chronically ill.
0:17:32 > 0:17:36Fake bowls like these are being sold in California, where the law states
0:17:36 > 0:17:41that products must carry a warning if they contain dangerous materials.
0:17:41 > 0:17:43The materials they've chosen
0:17:43 > 0:17:45can cause cancer and
0:17:45 > 0:17:47child defects at birth,
0:17:47 > 0:17:49so it's quite incredible.
0:17:49 > 0:17:52They first of all should never be on sale,
0:17:52 > 0:17:55and secondly very damaging for the consumer
0:17:55 > 0:17:57and for us as a brand, as well.
0:17:57 > 0:18:01These cheap and potentially dangerous plastics are the reason this
0:18:01 > 0:18:04product can undercut the genuine article.
0:18:04 > 0:18:07Knowing this, will our street sample
0:18:07 > 0:18:10still think the fake is a bargain?
0:18:10 > 0:18:12Well, then I'd definitely not buy it!
0:18:12 > 0:18:15Because, obviously, long-term, if it's going to affect me
0:18:15 > 0:18:17and my health, then I'm not going to be interested in it.
0:18:17 > 0:18:19That's terrible, isn't it?
0:18:19 > 0:18:21I would definitely buy the dearer one now.
0:18:21 > 0:18:24Yeah, that would scare me, slightly, to be honest.
0:18:24 > 0:18:27- I wouldn't go for it.- I'm going to pay £15 more for this one.
0:18:27 > 0:18:29I'm going to pay for this one.
0:18:29 > 0:18:32It just shows you how you can be deceived, really, isn't it?
0:18:40 > 0:18:44We are a nation of DIY lovers and, for lots of those
0:18:44 > 0:18:46"can't put it off any longer" jobs around the house,
0:18:46 > 0:18:48we should wear one of these -
0:18:48 > 0:18:51a protective mask with a special filter.
0:18:51 > 0:18:54They're also essential safety wear in many jobs to
0:18:54 > 0:18:56protect against potentially dangerous
0:18:56 > 0:18:58dust, particles and fumes.
0:18:58 > 0:19:01But these filters are fake
0:19:01 > 0:19:03and anyone using them might never
0:19:03 > 0:19:05know they'd put themselves at risk
0:19:05 > 0:19:08until it was too late.
0:19:09 > 0:19:13Hope Robertson understands why face masks are so important.
0:19:16 > 0:19:20Up until 2000, her husband David worked on the shipyards of the Clyde.
0:19:22 > 0:19:25He was an electrician, always in the yards.
0:19:25 > 0:19:29Back then, they didn't get overalls, they didn't even get a mask.
0:19:29 > 0:19:33They didn't even have a tissue paper to put over their nose.
0:19:33 > 0:19:37They were given absolutely nothing at all.
0:19:37 > 0:19:40David was exposed to asbestos day in, day out,
0:19:40 > 0:19:42with seemingly no ill effects.
0:19:44 > 0:19:47Then, in late 2000, Hope began to notice changes in him
0:19:47 > 0:19:50which caused her concern.
0:19:50 > 0:19:53Christmas time, New Year time, he started to lose weight,
0:19:53 > 0:19:57not vast amounts, but he was losing weight and he wasn't eating.
0:19:57 > 0:20:01And he had what you call a slight tickly cough.
0:20:01 > 0:20:04Nothing much to write home about, but it was...
0:20:04 > 0:20:06the change in his temperament.
0:20:06 > 0:20:09Hope made an appointment with the doctor,
0:20:09 > 0:20:10who was immediately worried,
0:20:10 > 0:20:13and sent David straight to the hospital for tests.
0:20:14 > 0:20:16That was on the Monday.
0:20:16 > 0:20:18On Tuesday, it was our wedding anniversary,
0:20:18 > 0:20:20our 36th wedding anniversary.
0:20:20 > 0:20:24And on the Thursday, February 24th,
0:20:24 > 0:20:27they came and they told us that he had mesothelioma.
0:20:28 > 0:20:31Pleural mesothelioma is a cancer of the lungs
0:20:31 > 0:20:34and doctors linked David's to his years working
0:20:34 > 0:20:37without being issued a mask and being left exposed to asbestos.
0:20:39 > 0:20:43It can lie dormant for over 20 years before symptoms appear,
0:20:43 > 0:20:47by which time, as in David's case, it can be highly advanced.
0:20:48 > 0:20:53Four weeks exactly after he got out of hospital, he died at home.
0:20:55 > 0:20:57As quickly as that.
0:21:00 > 0:21:04We didn't get a chance to say a proper goodbye.
0:21:07 > 0:21:12That really hurt, not being able to have just that extra bit of time.
0:21:15 > 0:21:17And that was it, all over...
0:21:19 > 0:21:22..all because of neglect.
0:21:27 > 0:21:29And David's wasn't an isolated incident.
0:21:31 > 0:21:34Whole communities whose workers weren't at the time issued
0:21:34 > 0:21:37with face masks were to suffer the same fate.
0:21:38 > 0:21:41This is my late husband's name on here.
0:21:41 > 0:21:44All these other people, all the way down,
0:21:44 > 0:21:46they were all exactly the same.
0:21:46 > 0:21:50They've all died from either asbestosis or mesothelioma.
0:21:50 > 0:21:52Heartbreaking.
0:21:52 > 0:21:56What did they do to deserve this? Absolutely nothing.
0:21:56 > 0:22:00And they died just purely because
0:22:00 > 0:22:03they were not given the proper equipment.
0:22:03 > 0:22:07It's precisely cases like this that led to a change in the law.
0:22:08 > 0:22:12Now employees in a range of professions are protected
0:22:12 > 0:22:16and given face masks to help prevent a repeat of such a tragedy.
0:22:18 > 0:22:21And it's not only asbestos particles that can be lethal.
0:22:21 > 0:22:24All dusts carry their own risk.
0:22:24 > 0:22:28Carpenters like William Kirby are 80 times more likely
0:22:28 > 0:22:32than the rest of us to develop nasal cancer from inhaling sawdust.
0:22:32 > 0:22:34I could be working an eight-to-ten-hour,
0:22:34 > 0:22:38to 14 hour day, using bench saws, electric planers -
0:22:38 > 0:22:42each one creates dust and it's very important to wear a mask.
0:22:44 > 0:22:46In fact, from workers like William
0:22:46 > 0:22:48to the thousands of us doing DIY at home,
0:22:48 > 0:22:51we're all exposed, and a range of companies make masks
0:22:51 > 0:22:54to protect against these dangers.
0:22:54 > 0:22:58One of the biggest and most trusted names is a brand called 3M,
0:22:58 > 0:23:02but we've discovered one of the filters for their face masks
0:23:02 > 0:23:04is being faked.
0:23:04 > 0:23:07We bought some of the fake filters online and took them
0:23:07 > 0:23:11to 3M's headquarters to show technical manager Alan McArthur.
0:23:11 > 0:23:14He believes it's very important to use the genuine item.
0:23:16 > 0:23:19These are one of the particle filters we sell in the UK.
0:23:19 > 0:23:22They attach onto our masks,
0:23:22 > 0:23:27can be a half face mask or, in this case, a full face mask.
0:23:27 > 0:23:30Once they're fitted and the wearer is wearing the product,
0:23:30 > 0:23:32the contaminated air, as they breathe,
0:23:32 > 0:23:36passes through the filter and the particles are captured,
0:23:36 > 0:23:38and the wearer then is breathing cleaned air.
0:23:41 > 0:23:45We're making many thousands of respirators every day
0:23:45 > 0:23:47and, over the world, we have other factories as well
0:23:47 > 0:23:49making respiratory protective equipment.
0:23:49 > 0:23:51And annually, yes, globally,
0:23:51 > 0:23:54runs into millions and millions of devices.
0:23:54 > 0:23:57The reputation and our brand is very important to us.
0:23:57 > 0:23:59It is something we take seriously
0:23:59 > 0:24:03because it's... The health of the wearer of the product is at risk.
0:24:06 > 0:24:08Genuine filters that are P3 grade
0:24:08 > 0:24:10should offer the wearer the highest level of protection
0:24:10 > 0:24:14against everything from brick dust to asbestos.
0:24:14 > 0:24:17A filter like this might have saved David Robertson's life
0:24:17 > 0:24:19in his asbestos-filled workplace.
0:24:20 > 0:24:24The fake filters claim to offer P3 grade protection,
0:24:24 > 0:24:26but if they don't perform,
0:24:26 > 0:24:30the wearer could unwittingly be inhaling toxic particles
0:24:30 > 0:24:32with devastating long-term effects.
0:24:32 > 0:24:34These filters have been through
0:24:34 > 0:24:36a stringent testing and certification process
0:24:36 > 0:24:40and we know how they'll perform when they are on the device.
0:24:40 > 0:24:43With fake filters, how they perform is unknown.
0:24:45 > 0:24:49Many of 3M's genuine products are tested here at the BSI,
0:24:49 > 0:24:51British Standards Institution.
0:24:51 > 0:24:55They check face masks used by everyone from the public
0:24:55 > 0:24:57to the emergency services and the military.
0:25:00 > 0:25:02Expert Mike Thompson has agreed to put the fakes
0:25:02 > 0:25:05through one of the tests all masks of this grade
0:25:05 > 0:25:07must meet to be sold anywhere in Europe.
0:25:09 > 0:25:12The aim of this test is to represent fine particles
0:25:12 > 0:25:15to see whether they penetrate through the particulate filter media.
0:25:15 > 0:25:18Basically what this will show us is, if you were the wearer,
0:25:18 > 0:25:20how much of this would go into your lungs.
0:25:24 > 0:25:30Sodium particles are blasted into the box to mimic a hazardous environment.
0:25:30 > 0:25:33The air is then sucked through the filter into a device
0:25:33 > 0:25:35acting as the wearer's lungs.
0:25:36 > 0:25:40Hardly any sodium should pass through to this stage.
0:25:40 > 0:25:43When assessed to European standard, it should protect the wearer
0:25:43 > 0:25:47from 99.95% of particles that they are subjected to.
0:25:49 > 0:25:51But it only takes a few seconds for Mike to see
0:25:51 > 0:25:54unusually high amounts leaking through.
0:25:55 > 0:25:59There's quite a lot of particulates going through the actual filter.
0:25:59 > 0:26:02Five minutes in, the first full set of readings come back
0:26:02 > 0:26:04and the results are damning.
0:26:06 > 0:26:09The penetration value is over 14%.
0:26:09 > 0:26:11For this European standard in this class,
0:26:11 > 0:26:14it should be no more than 0.05%.
0:26:14 > 0:26:17So if you're the wearer wearing this,
0:26:17 > 0:26:19you'll have little protection at all.
0:26:19 > 0:26:22It will be nearly 300 times the actual limit
0:26:22 > 0:26:24for this European standard.
0:26:24 > 0:26:29With such a disastrous performance, Mike decides to shut the test down.
0:26:29 > 0:26:33We would normally subject this filter to an exposure limit
0:26:33 > 0:26:35that would be at least for 30 minutes.
0:26:35 > 0:26:38But at this case, it's failed right at the start.
0:26:38 > 0:26:39There's no point carrying on.
0:26:39 > 0:26:41This is one of the worst masks I've ever seen.
0:26:41 > 0:26:45For 3M, the brand the fakers are ripping off,
0:26:45 > 0:26:48it's a warning for customers to be on their guard.
0:26:49 > 0:26:52Buy through reputable channels within the UK.
0:26:53 > 0:26:56I think searching for a bargain on a website
0:26:56 > 0:26:58is where you may find trouble.
0:27:00 > 0:27:04And for Hope Robertson, who lost her husband to asbestos exposure,
0:27:04 > 0:27:08the message to the fakers putting others at risk is loud and clear.
0:27:08 > 0:27:11These are people's lives that are at stake.
0:27:12 > 0:27:15I just don't want anybody else to go through
0:27:15 > 0:27:19what myself and my family went through
0:27:19 > 0:27:21because it's a horrible way to go.
0:27:21 > 0:27:23It's a dreadful way to go.
0:27:30 > 0:27:31After a hard day's work,
0:27:31 > 0:27:34we've all got our different ways of kicking back and relaxing.
0:27:34 > 0:27:37For an increasing number of people,
0:27:37 > 0:27:40it's escaping into the world of video games.
0:27:40 > 0:27:44In fact, eight out of ten households now have games consoles.
0:27:44 > 0:27:48And to use them, you need one of these - a controller.
0:27:48 > 0:27:51You've guessed it, it's a fake.
0:27:51 > 0:27:54But you might not have guessed that this controller is not only
0:27:54 > 0:27:58a waste of money, it's also potentially dangerous.
0:28:00 > 0:28:03There are an astounding 22 million games consoles
0:28:03 > 0:28:05in regular use across Britain and,
0:28:05 > 0:28:08with the average gamer now being an affluent 30-something,
0:28:08 > 0:28:10it's big business...
0:28:11 > 0:28:15..as PlayStation Magazine editor Matthew Pellett knows.
0:28:15 > 0:28:18We're far from the days of gaming just being a niche entertainment product.
0:28:18 > 0:28:21We have situations where games are costing millions of dollars to make,
0:28:21 > 0:28:23so it's a massive, massive industry,
0:28:23 > 0:28:27with millions and millions and millions of dollars involved,
0:28:27 > 0:28:28and it is growing bigger every year.
0:28:31 > 0:28:32With its rich pickings,
0:28:32 > 0:28:36it's been an area which has long been a target for the fakers.
0:28:36 > 0:28:38A few years ago,
0:28:38 > 0:28:42they targeted the lucrative trade in counterfeit video games.
0:28:42 > 0:28:44But with games now harder to copy,
0:28:44 > 0:28:47they've moved on to wireless controllers like these
0:28:47 > 0:28:50for Sony's popular PlayStation 3 console,
0:28:50 > 0:28:54which has sold over 80 million units.
0:28:54 > 0:28:59People go online and buy what they expect to be an official controller,
0:28:59 > 0:29:00and it turns out that maybe
0:29:00 > 0:29:03it isn't an official controller when it arrives.
0:29:05 > 0:29:08And that's exactly what happened to teaching assistant
0:29:08 > 0:29:10and games fan Raymi Salas.
0:29:10 > 0:29:12In the week, I work in a school,
0:29:12 > 0:29:15so it can be quite a stressful environment.
0:29:15 > 0:29:17So when I come home, it's a nice break.
0:29:17 > 0:29:20I can sit down and have a couple of hours
0:29:20 > 0:29:21just taking my mind away from things.
0:29:24 > 0:29:27It's not only gaming that I personally do with the PlayStation -
0:29:27 > 0:29:30I look at videos and go online -
0:29:30 > 0:29:32so it's important to have the controller
0:29:32 > 0:29:34and have a good one that works.
0:29:34 > 0:29:37And when Raymi's original controller broke,
0:29:37 > 0:29:40he bought a new one from an online marketplace.
0:29:42 > 0:29:45But not long after it arrived, something went wrong.
0:29:45 > 0:29:47It must have been maybe two days later,
0:29:47 > 0:29:50I was playing with it and it just didn't feel right.
0:29:50 > 0:29:53Some of the buttons, when I pressed them, they weren't reacting.
0:29:53 > 0:29:57So then I started to think, "Is this an original or not?"
0:29:57 > 0:29:59I compared it with my other controller
0:29:59 > 0:30:03and I noticed more and more things that were not the same.
0:30:05 > 0:30:06I was angry about it, you know.
0:30:06 > 0:30:09I'm paying all this money for something that is not real.
0:30:11 > 0:30:13Because I felt cheated,
0:30:13 > 0:30:16I wanted to warn people that would be in the same position,
0:30:16 > 0:30:20so I thought I'd make a video, uploaded it on YouTube.
0:30:20 > 0:30:23The serial number, ZC2H,
0:30:23 > 0:30:29it's not the same as the box that it came with, ZCU.
0:30:29 > 0:30:31Rimey began to get responses to his video
0:30:31 > 0:30:33from others who'd also been duped,
0:30:33 > 0:30:36suggesting the problem might be widespread.
0:30:38 > 0:30:41So, to get an idea of how prolific the fakers are,
0:30:41 > 0:30:44we asked PlayStation Magazine to reach out to their followers
0:30:44 > 0:30:49and see how many had fallen victim to counterfeit controllers.
0:30:49 > 0:30:54Within 24 hours, editor Matthew Pellett was inundated with replies.
0:30:54 > 0:30:56The response was quite extraordinary.
0:30:56 > 0:30:58We had almost 10,000 likes on Facebook,
0:30:58 > 0:31:00well over 200 people responded.
0:31:00 > 0:31:03We didn't expect the number of responses that we got
0:31:03 > 0:31:06and it was one of the most popular stories of the entire month.
0:31:07 > 0:31:12Disturbingly, readers weren't just reporting counterfeit controllers not working,
0:31:12 > 0:31:16but suggesting there may be a more serious risk for anyone using them.
0:31:16 > 0:31:19A guy called Alan here, who bought a fake one
0:31:19 > 0:31:21from an independent games store,
0:31:21 > 0:31:25and he reported the pad actually got quite hot when he was using it.
0:31:25 > 0:31:28And we've got one from Gadget Mann, who replies to say that he bought
0:31:28 > 0:31:32a fake one and it used to smell funny and once he had it on charge
0:31:32 > 0:31:35and smoke actually started coming out of the pad,
0:31:35 > 0:31:37which is pretty worrying, naturally.
0:31:37 > 0:31:39It's massively concerning to see our readers reporting that,
0:31:39 > 0:31:42in some instances, they've bought a fake controller
0:31:42 > 0:31:45and that there are actual physical problems with it.
0:31:46 > 0:31:49In fact, we've discovered a counterfeit warning put out
0:31:49 > 0:31:53by Sony themselves, which mentions the risk of explosions.
0:31:54 > 0:31:58And with so many seemingly making their way onto the market,
0:31:58 > 0:32:02Fake Britain decided to lift the lid on these counterfeit controllers
0:32:02 > 0:32:04and reveal what dangers lie beneath.
0:32:07 > 0:32:10Steve Gurewitz works with companies producing genuine
0:32:10 > 0:32:12third-party controllers
0:32:12 > 0:32:15that are compatible with consoles, including PlayStation.
0:32:15 > 0:32:17With the help of his technical experts,
0:32:17 > 0:32:19he's conducted an autopsy of the fake
0:32:19 > 0:32:22with some potentially alarming findings.
0:32:23 > 0:32:27What we have with the official one is this robust plastic mould,
0:32:27 > 0:32:29which holds all the components in place.
0:32:29 > 0:32:31And with the fake one, we have no plastic mould,
0:32:31 > 0:32:33so everything is free to rattle around.
0:32:33 > 0:32:35With the battery, the official one
0:32:35 > 0:32:37is in a proper protective plastic casing.
0:32:37 > 0:32:40It's got all the official CE markings on.
0:32:40 > 0:32:42It's a lithium ion battery, of course.
0:32:42 > 0:32:46On the fake one, it's quite literally wrapped in cheap plastic.
0:32:46 > 0:32:50The battery carries no CE markings and we have no idea
0:32:50 > 0:32:52if this is a safe battery or a dangerous battery.
0:32:52 > 0:32:55What we have is the battery held on with a bit of foam
0:32:55 > 0:32:58and a bit of glue and, if the battery burns,
0:32:58 > 0:33:01good chance that foam, that glue and that PCB board
0:33:01 > 0:33:03is going to burn with it.
0:33:03 > 0:33:06Sony pioneered work in lithium ion batteries
0:33:06 > 0:33:08and the ones used in their genuine products
0:33:08 > 0:33:10are extremely safe and stable.
0:33:12 > 0:33:16But lithium can be a notoriously unstable metal
0:33:16 > 0:33:19and we've seen here before on Fake Britain the effect that fake
0:33:19 > 0:33:22or cheaply produced lithium batteries can have.
0:33:24 > 0:33:26They run the risk of overheating
0:33:26 > 0:33:28and going into a state of thermal runaway,
0:33:28 > 0:33:32where one overheated cell sets off a chain reaction in the others.
0:33:35 > 0:33:37That is more likely to happen with a fake battery
0:33:37 > 0:33:41due to the fact of the poor quality control,
0:33:41 > 0:33:45the lack of safety features that are within these devices.
0:33:45 > 0:33:49A fake controller, fitted with an unstable battery like this,
0:33:49 > 0:33:51could overheat or potentially even explode.
0:33:58 > 0:34:02Already taken aback by the number of fakes seemingly on the market,
0:34:02 > 0:34:04Matthew Pellett is shocked by the revelation
0:34:04 > 0:34:08that gamers might not just be sold duds but dangerous goods.
0:34:10 > 0:34:12I mean, that's pretty terrifying.
0:34:12 > 0:34:14For the sake of saving ten or 20 quid,
0:34:14 > 0:34:17you're taking the risk of something exploding in your hands
0:34:17 > 0:34:21and damaging you for life, it's clearly not worth it.
0:34:28 > 0:34:29Earlier, we met Gina,
0:34:29 > 0:34:33who had a lucky escape after being conned by a part worn tyre dealer
0:34:33 > 0:34:37selling dangerous tyres making fake claims to be safe.
0:34:37 > 0:34:39I felt like I'd put my kids at risk
0:34:39 > 0:34:42and myself and anyone that had been in my car.
0:34:44 > 0:34:46But that wasn't a one-off.
0:34:47 > 0:34:50Fake Britain can reveal that thousands of unsafe part worn tyres
0:34:50 > 0:34:52are on sale across the country.
0:34:55 > 0:34:59Industry insiders, like Stuart Jackson of Tyresafe, fear the rise
0:34:59 > 0:35:02of these dodgy dealers is not only tarnishing the whole trade,
0:35:02 > 0:35:04but putting lives at risk.
0:35:05 > 0:35:09It is a concern for us that we have people, unscrupulous dealers,
0:35:09 > 0:35:11across the country.
0:35:11 > 0:35:16The unknown, hidden dangers of a part worn or used product
0:35:16 > 0:35:17is the biggest issue.
0:35:17 > 0:35:21Has it been damaged? Has it been in an accident? We just don't know.
0:35:22 > 0:35:24What we do know is that every year, in the UK,
0:35:24 > 0:35:28more than 1,200 motorists are injured in an accident where illegal,
0:35:28 > 0:35:32defective or underinflated tyres play a part.
0:35:32 > 0:35:36Very few people are in the position of being able to cope
0:35:36 > 0:35:39in the event that they have a sudden tyre failure.
0:35:46 > 0:35:50Alerted to a rising tide of fakers blighting the tyre trade,
0:35:50 > 0:35:54the authorities are clamping down on this criminal activity.
0:35:54 > 0:35:58In London, trading standards officer Samuel Abdullahi
0:35:58 > 0:36:00is heading out with partner Andy Faulkner on an operation
0:36:00 > 0:36:04aimed at stopping suspect tyre dealers in their tracks.
0:36:05 > 0:36:07Many of the tyres we do find are unsafe,
0:36:07 > 0:36:09they should never have been supplied to consumers
0:36:09 > 0:36:14and businesses should not have them on their premises for supply.
0:36:14 > 0:36:16Hence the reasons why we do the inspections,
0:36:16 > 0:36:18to make sure that the public are safe.
0:36:19 > 0:36:23And because it's up to the part worn tyre dealers themselves
0:36:23 > 0:36:25to check their tyres are roadworthy,
0:36:25 > 0:36:27the only way to make sure they aren't faking it
0:36:27 > 0:36:30is for Trading Standards to go door-to-door.
0:36:31 > 0:36:34- Hello, boss.- As Samuel and Andy begin their search,
0:36:34 > 0:36:37it's clear this owner doesn't want us along for the ride.
0:36:37 > 0:36:41- Turn off the camera, please.- OK. - Turn off the camera, please.
0:36:41 > 0:36:44The owner claims some of this stock has just arrived
0:36:44 > 0:36:46and is yet to be checked,
0:36:46 > 0:36:49but nothing should be on display until it's been tested
0:36:49 > 0:36:51and declared up to standard.
0:36:51 > 0:36:55As none of it is marked up, it may all be on offer to the public
0:36:55 > 0:36:59and one tyre has immediately caught their eye as potentially dangerous.
0:36:59 > 0:37:01This one has no ticket.
0:37:01 > 0:37:04It seems the owner is reluctant to give it up and wants them
0:37:04 > 0:37:07to take at a better-looking tyre instead.
0:37:07 > 0:37:11- No, no, no, I'll give you paperwork.- Yes.
0:37:11 > 0:37:14If it doesn't have part worn tyre, it is wrong.
0:37:14 > 0:37:15Do you understand what I'm saying?
0:37:15 > 0:37:18This one is rubbish tyre - take other one.
0:37:18 > 0:37:21It's on your business premises, OK, and it's in possession,
0:37:21 > 0:37:24and we've looked at it, and it doesn't appear to be safe.
0:37:24 > 0:37:26- No.- Listen to me... - Give me other one.
0:37:26 > 0:37:29Give me this one, give me this one, give me this one.
0:37:29 > 0:37:33- This one is rubbish. - I don't want that one.
0:37:33 > 0:37:36If we identify an item which we believe is unsafe,
0:37:36 > 0:37:39which is in here, we have to seize it.
0:37:39 > 0:37:42As their attempts to reason with the owner stall,
0:37:42 > 0:37:45Andy takes matters into his own hands.
0:37:45 > 0:37:47We got the tyre.
0:37:47 > 0:37:49A bit of a discussion about
0:37:49 > 0:37:51whether we were to be taking the tyre or not,
0:37:51 > 0:37:53but it's not really up for debate.
0:37:53 > 0:37:55It looks as though it's unsafe,
0:37:55 > 0:37:58we have suspicion that it is, so we'll be taking it today.
0:38:00 > 0:38:03With this suspected unsafe tyre off the streets,
0:38:03 > 0:38:05it's onto the next dealer on the list.
0:38:07 > 0:38:11I'm Samual Abdullahi, I'm from Trading Standards.
0:38:11 > 0:38:12To avoid any confusion this time,
0:38:12 > 0:38:16Samuel determines upfront what's on offer to the public.
0:38:16 > 0:38:20- Just to clarify, which ones have you got for sale?- That's for sale.
0:38:20 > 0:38:24- These are for sale.- Yeah.- OK, that's fine.- Also that one is for sale.
0:38:24 > 0:38:28And these ones also are for sale. OK, then, that's fine.
0:38:28 > 0:38:31As he explains the situation to the owner over the phone,
0:38:31 > 0:38:33it doesn't take Andy long to uncover signs
0:38:33 > 0:38:35of suspected fakery around the yard.
0:38:35 > 0:38:40So you, as a business, applied that sign to say that it's part worn?
0:38:40 > 0:38:41Yeah, yeah, that's part worn.
0:38:41 > 0:38:43The tyres are marked part-worn,
0:38:43 > 0:38:46meaning they have claimed to have passed all the safety checks
0:38:46 > 0:38:50demanded by law, but Andy has his doubts.
0:38:50 > 0:38:52This is just a tearaway sticker.
0:38:52 > 0:38:55The point of the marking is to be able to see that it's been shown
0:38:55 > 0:38:58to everyone that it is a part worn and people are aware,
0:38:58 > 0:39:01and it is supposed to be compliant with the legislation.
0:39:01 > 0:39:06Um... That is probably not, to be honest.
0:39:06 > 0:39:10As he delves deeper, his suspicions appear to be well-founded.
0:39:10 > 0:39:13The concern we've got with this one is we've got a chunk straightaway
0:39:13 > 0:39:18that's come away from it. You can see the concern.
0:39:19 > 0:39:22Andy and Samuel seize two more suspect tyres
0:39:22 > 0:39:24they think could be putting the public at risk.
0:39:24 > 0:39:27They both have the part worn stamp on them,
0:39:27 > 0:39:29which is not the right way.
0:39:29 > 0:39:32It needs to be permanent, on the actual tyre itself.
0:39:32 > 0:39:34And this one here has got a patch on the inside,
0:39:34 > 0:39:36which shows that there has been a repair.
0:39:36 > 0:39:38Clearly it may be dangerous.
0:39:38 > 0:39:41The question is, how unroadworthy is it?
0:39:45 > 0:39:48To find out, back at base, Samuel has called in Steve Dolby.
0:39:48 > 0:39:53Steve's an expert with over 30 years' experience in tyre testing.
0:39:53 > 0:39:56He can tell whether what's been seized is safe,
0:39:56 > 0:40:00as its markings claim, or whether it's being sold by fakers
0:40:00 > 0:40:02making a profit by putting the public at risk.
0:40:02 > 0:40:06What we've found is that quite a few tyres have the part-worn marking,
0:40:06 > 0:40:10but they're still effectively in an unroadworthy condition.
0:40:10 > 0:40:13Samuel's got a stack of recently seized tyres.
0:40:13 > 0:40:15He wants Steve's verdict.
0:40:16 > 0:40:19First up is one of the tyres he's just brought in
0:40:19 > 0:40:22and Steve begins by checking the tyre's age.
0:40:22 > 0:40:24The four numbers here,
0:40:24 > 0:40:28meaning that the tyre was made in week nine of 2003.
0:40:28 > 0:40:31So this tyre's already 12 years old, so it's quite an old tyre.
0:40:31 > 0:40:36I would suggest it shouldn't be put back onto the road at that age.
0:40:36 > 0:40:40Although there is no age limit in law for part-worn tyres,
0:40:40 > 0:40:42tyres are changed on average every three years -
0:40:42 > 0:40:46this one is over four times that age.
0:40:46 > 0:40:49Alarm bells are already ringing and, seconds later,
0:40:49 > 0:40:51Steve finds hard evidence
0:40:51 > 0:40:54that the tyre's claims to be road safe are fake.
0:40:54 > 0:40:57So, straightaway, there's a repair in the side wall of the tyre.
0:40:57 > 0:40:59Only specific repairers can do that,
0:40:59 > 0:41:01they have to be registered to do that,
0:41:01 > 0:41:04and they would have to stamp it on the inside, who's done it and when.
0:41:04 > 0:41:07Effectively, you've got to rebuild the side wall of the tyre.
0:41:07 > 0:41:10It's a major job. This has just been a bit of a bodge job.
0:41:10 > 0:41:13The patch over the repair could be a serious issue.
0:41:13 > 0:41:18It could suddenly deflate rapidly, causing big problems.
0:41:18 > 0:41:21Disturbingly, it's not the only defect.
0:41:21 > 0:41:23We can see another patch on the inside.
0:41:23 > 0:41:25With a repair on the inside,
0:41:25 > 0:41:27there should be a corresponding one on the outside
0:41:27 > 0:41:30where the road damage actually took place.
0:41:30 > 0:41:33But with no such repair made to the tyre tread,
0:41:33 > 0:41:36it means the cause of the damage has never been dealt with.
0:41:36 > 0:41:39The person who's repaired the tyre has just put a patch
0:41:39 > 0:41:42only on the inside, but it hasn't sealed the hole on the outside.
0:41:42 > 0:41:44The tyre can start to separate,
0:41:44 > 0:41:48which could eventually cause a rapid deflation on the motorway.
0:41:48 > 0:41:50And the problems don't stop there.
0:41:50 > 0:41:53- It looks like a razor blade or a Stanley knife.- Looks like a knife.
0:41:53 > 0:41:57That will have sliced through some of the cords of the tyre,
0:41:57 > 0:41:58so it's a very serious bit of damage.
0:41:58 > 0:42:01You could end up with a serious accident with this tyre
0:42:01 > 0:42:03fitted on a car. It should never go back into the marketplace.
0:42:03 > 0:42:08With the tyre Samuel seized declared a fake on multiple counts,
0:42:08 > 0:42:11taking it out of service may well have saved someone's life.
0:42:14 > 0:42:16It seems like the problem is endemic.
0:42:16 > 0:42:19The tyre's probably had some sort of nail or screw through it.
0:42:19 > 0:42:23The entire stack of tyres, from many different dealers,
0:42:23 > 0:42:25all failed to make the grade
0:42:25 > 0:42:27and some of them were even marked to confirm
0:42:27 > 0:42:29that they'd passed safety standards.
0:42:29 > 0:42:33It's still shocking to see the number of tyres that have not met
0:42:33 > 0:42:34the safety standards.
0:42:34 > 0:42:38It's still disturbing, the whole part worn tyre industry, really.
0:42:40 > 0:42:43Samuel's case against the part worn tyre dealers is still ongoing...
0:42:46 > 0:42:50..and his work to protect motorists still isn't done.
0:42:51 > 0:42:53It has definitely been a worthwhile operation
0:42:53 > 0:42:56and there are plenty of other traders out there
0:42:56 > 0:42:59which we haven't visited, so we will be targeting them in the future.
0:43:05 > 0:43:07That's all from Fake Britain. Goodbye.