11:00 am, Tuesday, 25th August 2026 – 36 seconds ago
Fake action figures, squishy toys and poor wires – the Council have been working hard to keep children’s toys safe this summer period.
Trading Standards have seized 1,717 toys from stores across the borough after they were deemed unsafe or confirmed as counterfeit.
Items included action figures, stuffed toys and squishes. Many of them were without a safety mark and some were poorly constructed with unsafe battery storage, poor electrical wiring or presented choking hazards.
The inspections took place over several weeks with a large number of toys being seized during enforcement activity over Cleethorpes Armed Forces weekend, where a around 750 toys and products were seized due to concerns regarding product safety and legitimacy.
Many of the items seized are so-called “squishy” toys. These products have attracted significant national attention following reports of injuries to children and concerns regarding unsafe chemical content.
Trading Standards services across the country have undertaken work to identify and remove potentially dangerous products from the market, particularly products which may not meet UK safety standards.
Children’s toys such as these should be tested to ensure compliance with British Standards and require CE marking before they can be sold. The toys should also not breach a registered trademark, another sign they could be unsafe.
Effectively, the CE mark means the product complies with the essential product safety standards. Manufacturers who use the mark must also issue a declaration of conformity to show they are complying with the relevant tests needed to obtain a legitimate CE mark.
The items confiscated are in breach of the Toy (Safety) Regulations 2011 which states that all toys must clearly display:
- Manufacturer information (including a registered trademark where appropriate)
- Importer information
- Product ID
- Compliance marks (including the CE mark)
- Safety Warnings
Councillor James Sawkins, Portfolio Holder for Safer and Stronger Communities, said: “It’s quite surprising just how many unsafe toys have been seized.
“The team have done an excellent job in ensuring the safety of visitors and residents – something that is a priority for myself and the Council.
“If a toy is cheaper than usual, it’s very likely it hasn’t undergone the same safety testing that a reputable company would do on their products, to ensure they are safe for children to play with.”
He added: “If you feel a product may be fraudulent, please report it to the team to help – action can’t be taken without it being reported.”
To report any suspicions you may have to Trading Standards, email them on trading.standards@nelincs.gov.uk or call (01472) 326299, option 3.
Main image caption: From left, Jessica Body, Trading Standards Officer; Cllr Sawkins and Ed Lince, Trading Standards Officer
