Mr Yomi Disu, owner of Ninola Cosmetics in Bradbury Street, N16 was found guilty of five charges of offering to supply unhallmarked silver jewellery, at Thames Magistrates Court on 10/02/09. Mr Disu was ordered to pay a £2000 fine plus £3397 costs.



Trading Standards officers have been cracking down on jewellers who sell unhallmarked and counterfeit jewellery over the past 18 months. This is the fourth prosecution brought by the Council since last September for offering to sell unhallmarked jewellery.



Cllr Alan Laing, Cabinet Member for Neighbourhoods said: “This is a significant fine which shows the courts take the matter seriously. It costs a jeweller £70 to register to have items hallmarked and 60 pence per item. There is absolutely no excuse for misleading customers, by selling items without proof that they are the genuine article. Consumers should always check the jewellery they’re buying is properly stamped.”



The court also issued an order to Hackney Trading Standards, enabling them to have the seized articles hallmarked at the London Assay Office at the traders’ expense, before being returned.



Consumers who believe they may have bought unhallmarked jewellery in the borough of Hackney can contact Trading Standards on 020 8356 4929.



Ends

Notes to editor



· Jewellers are required to display a current hallmarking notice to help customers determine what the hallmark means, in terms of fineness of the precious metal, the sponsor mark, and the assay office mark, all of which are compulsory, for each item.

· Any charges brought against jewellers will relate to the following sections of the Hallmarking Act 1973:



S1 (b) for offering to supply, an unhallmarked article to which a description indicating that it is wholly or partly made of gold, silver or platinum.



S11 for a dealer failing to exhibit a hallmarking notice at all times in a conspicuous position for customers to read.