SALFORD: Trading standards officers in Salford have impounded another £100,000 worth of potentially dangerous hoverboards.
It is the second seizure by officers in the city of the must-have Christmas present.
In November £20,000 worth of the boards were recovered from a warehouse in the city.
The latest action came after a tip-off alerted officers to two businesses selling the items. A total of 583 were found.
Officers made visits and issued suspension notices which means both businesses can no longer sell or promote the self-balancing boards. It is a criminal offence to sell or move them when the notice is in place.
The action was taken because officers were concerned they did not comply with British safety standards.
Coun Gena Merrett said: “We want everyone to have a fun Christmas but we also want them to be safe.
“Hoverboards are very popular this year but the market has been flooded with ones that are dangerous. Some of the major safety risks identified include issues with the plug, charger, and battery of cut-off switch.
“The only way you can check the charger is safe is if it is made to BS 1363 – and the outer box and instruction leaflet refers to it too.
“Nationally more than 90 per cent of the products tested have failed so please be very cautious.”
The Department for Transport says the boards are illegal to use on public roads or pavements.
It is recommended they should never be left charging unattended – especially overnight.
A faulty cut-off switch (designed to stop the battery from continuing to charge once fully charged) or a plug without a fuse, as seen in many products detained so far, could lead to the device overheating, exploding or catching fire.
A council spoklesman said: “People should not be dazzled by a bargain. Are the prices incredibly low? If they look too good to be true, they probably are – particularly if some of your other checks have put doubts in your mind.
“Criminals exploit high demand. When items like self-balancing scooters start to sell out at well-known retailers, the void is quickly filled by crooks churning out poor quality imitations that can put people in danger.
“Don’t ‘panic buy’ from the first website you find – do your usual common-sense checks.”
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