UK Program Cracks Down On Counterfeit Goods In Self-Storage

Self-storage businesses across the Isle of Wight, a large island and county located in the English Channel about 6 miles off the southern coast of England, are joining forces to prevent criminals from using self-storage facilities to house counterfeits and illicit goods. It's called the "Tick Box Scheme."

This national program, designed to keep criminals out of self-storage facilities, was introduced to the Island in 2020. Since then, self-storage businesses including Barn Store, Cowes Movers, Isle of Wight Removals and Storage and InnerSpaces Self Storage, have joined the scheme ensuring their businesses are doing their best to keep their premises, and by extension their customers, safe from illegal activity.

In recent years, police in England and Wales have disrupted criminal networks, confiscating thousands of counterfeit items from these facilities. The items have been estimated to be worth millions of pounds. Criminals selling counterfeit goods and unsafe products gravitate to self-storage facilities due to the ease of rental and anytime access. Unfortunately, these products pose a serious risk to both self-storage businesses and the public storing their belongings there. Because fake products do not undergo the same rigorous safety testing as genuine products, they could be highly dangerous, like fake batteries. Electrical items or unsafe chemicals could also cause fires or chemical leaks, putting not only stored goods but the lives of customers and staff at risk.

Dominic Hampson, Operations Manager at InnerSpaces, shared how Tick Box has been helpful in highlighting potentially suspicious behavior. ‘‘The scheme was very simple to implement...It has strengthened our approach to customer verification and reinforced the importance of vigilance across all stages, from inquiry to contract completion."

Continued Hampson, "We’ve worked hard to build the trust of our customers over the 15 years we’ve been operating on the Island. Fake and illicit goods would undermine that relationship and damage our standing within the community and industry. Storing counterfeit products isn’t just about the immediate risks. It opens the door to a chain reaction of negative consequences, from compromising safety and security to fueling larger societal issues. At InnerSpaces, we are committed to ensuring that our facility remains a safe, law-abiding environment for all.’’

James Potter, Trading Standards and Community Safety Manager for the Isle of Wight Council, added "The appeal of cheaper goods may seem tempting, but counterfeit goods will be of a very poor quality and will not have gone through the same amount of rigorous testing as genuine products on the market to keep consumers safe."

Continued Potter, "Purchasing counterfeit goods has further proven consequences, including contributing to job losses in the UK every year, a negative impact on the economy, impacting workers rights and being linked to organized criminal groups who are involved in serious crime."

Potter says that if a tenant is caught making or selling counterfeit goods, they may face an imprisonment term of up to 10 years and/or an unlimited fine.

Tick Box is a free partnership between local Trading Standards, the Intellectual Property Office, and the Self-Storage Association UK.

It provides storage facilities with a voluntary code of practice to verify customers’ identities and the intended use of storage units.

For more information about joining the scheme, visit:

Tick Box | Keep it real, keep it legal