Christmas shoppers are being urged against buying bargain designer products as gifts, after police seized an estimated £1 million worth of counterfeit goods during raids on Camden High Street, north London.
Approximately 4,000 counterfeit items were seized from four shops on 12 December 2023 by the Police Intellectual Property Crime Unit (PIPCU) at City of London Police. Supported by TRAP partner Surelock and Local Trading Standards.
In one shop, officers seized counterfeit football shirts worth an estimated loss to the industry of £69,800. Counterfeit designer bracelets, thought to be worth an estimated loss of around £400,000, and £19,240 worth of counterfeit trainers were found in another shop.
A/Detective Inspector Andrew Masterson, from the Police Intellectual Property Crime Unit (PIPCU) at City of London Police, said:
“Selling counterfeit goods is illegal, and we ask the public to think twice before buying bargain products as gifts in the run up to Christmas. While the cheaper price of these goods can be appealing, the reality is that counterfeiting can be a gateway to fund other organised crime.
“We seized a range of counterfeit products that included toys and vapes, which we believe were made to a low quality and didn’t meet safety standards.
“We’re following up on raids in Camden earlier this year to send a clear message that we’re here for the long-term. We’re working with brands and Trading Standards to make Camden a hostile place for counterfeiters to sell their wares, and where legitimate traders can thrive.”
image and text courtesy of PIPCU