New powers crack down on illegal traders

Manchester City Council has been given more powers to clear illegal traders off the city’s streets.

The Manchester City Council Act 2010 has been placed onto the statute books after receiving Royal Assent on Thursday April 8.

The new powers are intended to stop people attempting to use pedlars' certificates to trade illegally in busy shopping areas such as Market Street.

Although these certificates allow individuals to trade anywhere in the country while on the move, many street traders flout the guidelines, often trading in fixed locations and sometimes selling counterfeit, substandard and potentially dangerous goods.

Under the previous law, City Council licensing officers had to extensively monitor pedlars' activities before they could be prosecuted - a long and costly process.

However, under the powers granted in the Act, pedlars can only trade for a maximum of five minutes from any one location before having to move on, and officers will be able to seize goods being sold by illegal traders.

The Act finally passed through the Lords on March 30 following a lengthy campaign to get it through the Commons.

A similar Act put forward by Bournemouth Borough Council has also received Royal Assent, while Leeds, Nottingham, Reading and Canterbury are also currently pursuing similar legislation.

Vicky Rosin, Manchester City Council's director of neighbourhood services, said: "These new powers will enable us to deal effectively with illegal street traders who often sell shoddy, and sometimes counterfeit and dangerous products, and who cause major obstructions on our busiest streets.

"It will also mean hard working legitimate traders will no longer have their efforts undermined, and I would like to thank everyone who's lent us their support throughout this campaign."