Lethal phone chargers seized by Council

5.21.51pm GMT Sat 6th Feb 2010

• MORE than 100 potentially lethal mobile phone and game console chargers have been taken off the market by Richmond Council, amid fears they could kill people using them because of poor quality design.

Electrical testing by experts on 12 different makes of the chargers, which sell for as little as £4 each, found that in many cases the pins were the wrong size and that internal wiring could become loose. As well as injuring people when they are plugged in, the devices could short circuit electrical equipment.

Cllr David Williams, Richmond Council's Cabinet Member for Communities said: "These chargers are not safe, they could kill or injure anyone who uses them and I'm very pleased they're off our streets. They have been made to a very shoddy standard. The message is clear: Don't put yourself or your family in danger by buying a cheap charger that's unbranded or made by a company you've never heard of. Why put yourself at risk, and why risk a new mobile phone or games system? The safest option if you need a new charger is to buy only from a known retailer, and preferably for the same brand of equipment that it will be used with. There has been an explosion in the market for mobile phones accessories. Cheap replacement chargers are widespread and are often bought instead of more expensive but reliable branded counterparts. This is a mistake and could land you with a severe electric shock. Surprisingly, most of these chargers were labelled with the CE safety mark, although they had no right to do so. We can only draw the conclusion that these cheap imports are not being tested vigorously before being imported into the UK and sold to consumers."

The dodgy chargers have been found several shops in the borough after visits from trading Standards officers. The Council is now considering whether to prosecute the owners of the businesses. The chargers will be put beyond use by the Council or used as evidence in a court case. The shops were visited as part of a joint operation across South West London boroughs. Shops in Sutton, Merton, Kingston, Croydon, Hounslow and Wandsworth were also visited by local trading standards officers in a co-ordinated operation. This came about following the death of a seven year old British boy in Thailand, who was electrocuted when using a dangerous replacement charger.