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Top tips for enjoying Goose Fair safely after 'flashing dummy' prosecution (NCC release)

Community Protection are warning visitors to Goose Fair to be careful when buying novelty items, toys, fireworks and electrical goods from the fair, which will take place this year between 5th and 9th October.

Products such as these for sale at fairs are often found to contravene safety regulations.

The warning comes after the recent successful prosecution by Community Protection's Trading Standards team of a trader who at last year's fair was found with 240 toy dummies that were found to contravene safety legislation.

Samuel William Davies, 33 of Aberystwyth in North Wales was prosecuted under the Consumer Protection Act in August of this year and given a 12 month Conditional Discharge.

Jane Bailey, Trading Standards Manager for Community Protection said

The items look very similar to normal dummies but incorporate coloured flashing lights that are activated when a button on the front is pressed and are fitted with a cord enabling the item to go around the neck.

They come apart very easily revealing a small circuit board and battery that power the lights. Due to their small size, the circuit board and battery pose a potential choking hazard and the cord also poses a strangulation hazard to babies and children if the dummy was inadvertently given to them as a toy or in lieu of a genuine dummy.

Trading Standards Officers are advising those intending to visit the fair this year not to buy these flashing dummies and, if they already possess this item, to dispose of it. Traders are also being advised to remove the dummies from sale or face potential legal action.

Officers from the Directorate's Environmental Health team have also delivered letters to households on the edge of the Goose Fair Site, warning them not to allow mobile stall holders to use their electricity supply.

Paul Dales, Health & Safety Manager for Community Protection said:

During Goose Fair some mobile stalls owners have asked householders if they may use their electricity supply. We strongly advise against this as if they don't set up correctly they may put you and your property at risk.

During the Fair, Community Protection Officers will be working alongside their colleagues in Environmental Health and Trading Standards, looking out for potential health and safety risks and supporting their police colleagues to ensure visitors can enjoy their experience safely. Officers will also be on the look out for children visiting the fair during school hours, reporting them to the Youth Intervention Team for further action.

Tips for a safer goose fair

In order to help all visitors enjoy the fair, Community Protection's Trading Standards and Environmental Health experts have prepared some useful tips.

They include:

• Check that toys are labelled and instructions given are clear and are followed and that only toys suitable for the correct age group are given to under three year olds.
• Check that goods/toys are working before you give them to children to play with. Toys and electrical goods should be marked with a CE symbol.
• Avoid buying the latest craze / pocket money priced toys, recent examples include Yo-Yo Balls which were found to have a strangulation risk, Pump-it-up air Yo-Yos which contained a sharp needle or Flashing Imitation Dummies.
• Never buy fireworks from a fair, market stall or car boot sale. Fireworks can be sold only from registered premises for a four-week period from 15 October until 10 November. Unlicensed sellers may be selling fireworks that don't meet the British Standard so could potentially be lethal.
• Never buy any high-value items. Because of the nature of a temporary fair, it can be difficult to take things back. Purchasers are entitled to expect goods to be of satisfactory quality, fit for their purpose, as described and more importantly, safe. If shoppers experience problems with purchases made at the fair or they suspect that traders are selling unsafe items, they should report it to Consumer Direct on 08454 040506.
• Food vehicles within the Goose Fair site have been authorised and checked by Environmental Health officers, if eating from vehicles outside, ensure that burgers and other meats are fully cooked through.
• Make sure young children are supervised near food vehicles, hot surfaces and liquids.
  

Councillor Alex Norris, Portfolio Holder for Area Working, Cleansing and Community Safety said:

Goose Fair is a fantastic family event that attracts thousand of citizens and visitors from all over the UK to our city; we want to ensure that everyone is able to enjoy the event safely which is why we make such stringent checks. Our Trading Standards and Environmental Health teams will have a presence at the fair this year and will be checking for illegal and dangerous items that shouldn't be on sale.

(Wed 5th October 2011 09:00:00 GMT)

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