Listen: are dangerous fake toys putting children at risk?

Parents are being warned about the risk of buying counterfeit toys as new Home Office data reveals 259,000 fake toys, with a retail value in the region of £3.5 million, have been seized at UK borders this year alone, with more than three-quarters (79%) of those intercepted failing critical safety tests. Many of these contained banned chemicals linked to cancer, as well as choking hazards and faulty parts – including in toys marketed at toddlers and infants

With so many of these products bypassing every safety check required by law, parents are being urged not to let their kids be the testers as the Intellectual Property Office (IPO) reveals that almost half (46%) of parents who have purchased counterfeit toys experienced serious problems, ranging from broken toys and toxic smells and even reports of illness in children.

With almost three-fifths (58%) of toy buyers saying they would think twice about buying a counterfeit product if they knew the safety risks, the IPO, supported by Trading Standards, leading toy retailers, local authorities and parenting influencers, is launching the Fake Toys, Real Harms campaign.

Aston spoke to Rhys Hurley, head of intelligence partnership at Intellectual Property Office.

Photo by Hannah Rodrigo on Unsplash