Published: Thursday 26 January 2023
Counterfeit luxury brand goods valued at around £200,000 have been seized by Trading Standards officers following a raid on a shop in Kensington Church Street.
A total of 467 items of clothing and accessories from high-end designers including Louis Vuitton, Chanel, Dior and Burberry were among the haul discovered on sale at close to the retail cost of authentic items, with prices ranging from £250 to £1,000.
Trading Standards officers from Kensington and Chelsea Council and trademark representatives from the brands affected carried out the raid following allegations of counterfeit goods being sold at the store. A large number of suspected counterfeit products were found on the shop floor, with considerably more items recovered from the basement.
The matter will now be fully investigated under the Trade Marks Act 1994 and could result in further formal action being taken against the business owners.
Councillor Josh Rendall, Lead Member for Local Economy & Employment, said:
“Selling counterfeit goods is not a victimless crime. Shoppers are ripped off, confidence in legitimate brands undermined and we know that the supply and sale of fake items funds everything from organised crime to human trafficking.
“This seizure is a fantastic result from our Trading Standards team and demonstrates our commitment to stamping out this criminal activity so that visitors to our borough’s many wonderful businesses can continue to shop with confidence.”
The seizure of the counterfeit goods was complicated by the shop owner obstructing the Trading Standards officers from accessing the basement, resulting in the police having to be called.
Someone convicted of selling counterfeit goods could face a prison sentence of up to ten years and an unlimited fine, as well as potentially having homes, possessions and other assets confiscated as proceeds of crime.
If you have a complaint about goods or services, or a business, or require advice to help resolve your consumer issue, contact Citizens Advice on 0808 223 1133 or complete the online consumer query form.