A man who sold counterfeit work-based qualification cards has been jailed for more than three years.
Warwickshire City Council Trading Standards brought the prosecution against Andrew Weeks, 53, after he was found producing the fake cards at his printing company Nuneaton Print and selling them online for up to £30.99 each. Forged documents included cards for the Construction Skills Certification Scheme (CSCS), the Construction Plant Competence Scheme (CPCS) and the Electrotechnical Certification Scheme (ECS).
Other fake documentation included occupational health cards, driving licences, qualification certificates for first aid, and City & Guilds certificates. A Construction Industry Training Board (CITB) investigating officer was able to purchase a CPCS card from Weeks without providing evidence that he was trained to operate machines such as dumper trucks and excavators.
He was also sued by CSCS for copyright infringement and ordered to pay damages of £6,000.
The names of those who had purchased fake documents from Weeks are now in the hands of the certificate awarding organisations. The use of fake cards could easily lead to accidents, injuries or even fatalities where contractors do not have the required skills, training or qualifications. Employers must remain vigilant when checking workers’ documentation and keep an eye out for any suspicious activity.”
