A Newham trading standards officer has been named Rising Star of the year at the Anti-Counterfeiting Group (ACG) Awards.
Khalid Pervaiz has only been a Trading Standards officer for three years, but has proved himself a natural at taking illegal goods off the streets.
To date he is credited with being part of the team that has removed more than £500,000 worth of illicit and counterfeit products from the borough.
Among the operations he has been involved in are:
- Seizing of counterfeit designer gear with an estimated retail value of more than £100,000
- Removing 60,000 cigarettes, 100kg of shisha, 350g of hand-rolling tobacco, 5.5kg of chewing tobacco, 175 illegal vapes
- Taking another £250,000 worth of non-compliant vapes and illicit tobacco products
- Cracking down on sharp business practices by retailers ripping off their customers
Cllr Amar Virdee, Cabinet Member for Community Safety and Crime, said: “Khalid is an outstanding officer, in the relatively short time he has been with the team he had made a real difference.
“He has been behind some of our key enforcement successes, including large-scale seizures and the disruption of criminal supply chains, all of which feed into our wider goals of consumer protection and community safety.
“It’s been estimated that up to £500,000 of illegal goods have been taken off our streets by his work.”
His award-winning entry, open to any Trading Standards officer with less than years’ service, states that: “He brings energy and optimism to the team, always willing to support colleagues, share insights, and step up when the service needs him most.
“His positive presence has helped embed a culture of learning, integrity, and resilience within our unit.
“Khalid has taken a lead role in tackling lettings, underage sales, as well as delivering high-impact work through Operation CeCe and Operation Joseph.
“He has also been a strong supporter of the 50 Steps to a Healthier Newham Strategy and has been instrumental in driving forward our Responsible Retailer Scheme, ensuring local businesses understand their responsibilities and play their part in community wellbeing.
“Khalid’s contribution has helped drive Newham Trading Standards to win the London Trading Standards Team of the Year Award in 2023 and the London Trading Standards Intelligence Team of the Year Award in 2024, accolades that reflect the exceptional work and culture he has helped build.”
And in further good news, the London Trading Standards – a collective of trading standards teams from the London boroughs that includes Newham – have been awarded the British Hallmarking Council’s (BHC) Touchstone Award 2025, for their role in Operation Stamping It Out. A pioneering hallmarking education and enforcement project, on behalf of the London Assay Office, in conjunction with WRi Group.
