BOGUS CHARITY CLOTHING COLLECTION COMPANIES

That this House condemns the practice of clothing collection companies which deliver literature claiming clothing donations are urgently needed for the developing world but, as profit-making companies, then sell the donated clothes for financial gain; notes with concern allegations made by Clothes Aid that on an estimated 1,000 occasions representatives of such companies have been witnessed stealing clothes left out for legitimate charities; and calls on the Home Office, the Office of Fair Trading and the Charity Commission to establish a joint review to ensure that law enforcement officers have the ability to take the maximum possible measures against collection companies that deliberately act in a dishonest way.