Counterfeit Toys Seized at St Helier Car Boot Sale

On Wednesday 29 July, local Neighbourhood Officers joined Trading Standards for a proactive visit to the St Helier Car Boot Sale.

During the operation, the team identified and seized a large quantity of counterfeit children's toys and accessories from two stalls, including:

• 442 "squishy" toys
• 48 soft toys
• 27 Labubu figures
• 9 backpacks
• 2 baseball caps

Both stall holders voluntarily surrendered the items and signed warning letters.

While counterfeit toys may not immediately seem like a policing issue, these products can pose serious risks to children's health and safety. Counterfeit items often fail to meet required safety standards, and there have been increasing reports of harmful chemicals and toxic substances being found in unregulated toys.

Potential Health Risks

Counterfeit squishey toys have been linked to:

• Headaches, dizziness and nausea
• Irritation to the eyes, nose, throat and lungs
• Skin irritation and allergic reactions
• Sleep disturbances in cases of significant chemical exposure
• Burns caused by overheated gel-filled toys

How to Protect Your Family

✅ Buy toys from reputable retailers
✅ Check for CE or UKCA safety markings and proper labelling
✅ Avoid toys with a strong chemical smell
✅ Never heat or microwave squishy toys
✅ Remove toys with strong odours from children's bedrooms
✅ Follow any product recall advice issued by manufacturers or regulators

Most toys are safe when purchased from trusted sources, but counterfeit products can present genuine risks. By staying aware and making informed purchasing choices, we can all help keep children safe.