The Trading Standards office of the Scotland Highland Council has joined a U.K. initiative designed to encourage best practices in self-storage operation that deter criminals from keeping counterfeit and illicit goods in facility units. The “Tick Box: Keep It Real. Keep It Legal” campaign, which includes participation from the region’s Intellectual Property Office and the Self Storage Association of the United Kingdom, provides a code of practice to help storage operators identify suspicious renters and assist officers in seizing illegal goods before they enter the marketplace, according to the Tick Box website.

Self-storage operators can participate in the program for free, receiving a Tick Box logo and code of practice for display. The materials are designed to discourage criminals and give confidence to law-abiding tenants, demonstrating the business’ commitment to keeping their property and community safe. In addition, all participants will ask their customers to agree to the program standards when they sign their lease agreement.

Trading officials will also advise self-storage operators on their legal responsibilities in relation to potential copyright, product-safety and trademark infringement on their properties, the Tick Box website states.

The Highland Council Trading Standards Service, which acts as a consumer-protection agency, has conducted several audits of self-storage properties in the region over the last five months. Thus far, two operators have volunteered to be part of the Tick Box campaign, according to a press release.

“We are proud to be the first self-storage business in the Highlands to pass the audit and sign up to the Tick Box Code of Practice,” said Donnie Nicolson, managing director for Jans, which offers self-storage in Portree on the Isle of Skye. “Jans are committed to fair trading and following the code of practice preventing the storage of counterfeit and other illicit goods. We look forward to working with Highland Council Trading Standards in the future.”

Ferguson Transport Ltd., which operates a storage facility in Corpach, has also joined the initiative. “We are delighted to be participating in the Tick Box Code of Practice scheme and look forward to working in partnership with Highland Council Trading Standards to encourage best practice across the industry,” said Carol MacKinnon, financial director for Ferguson.

The Tick Box campaign launched in 2016 and was expanded in 2021.

Sources:
The Highland Council, Highland Self Storage Businesses Receive a Big Tick
The Tick Box, Website