UK Border Force has prevented over half a billion pounds worth of
counterfeit articles from reaching consumers between 2021 and
2023, disrupting organised criminal networks and protecting
public safety.
The newly published UK Border Seizure Activity
Report reveals significant trends in intellectual property
(IP) crime. It is the first comprehensive report on the
enforcement of IP rights under the UK's customs framework,
establishing a new benchmark for reporting this data.
The report covers three years of border enforcement activity,
showing that UK Border Force seized counterfeit articles with a
retail value exceeding £500 million. The data reveals clear
trends in IP crime, including a spike in counterfeit medical
products during the pandemic, and consistently high demand for
fashion items such as clothing and accessories throughout the 3
year period. as the most seized types of articles.
Trade mark infringement remained the most common IP violation,
accounting for 74% of cases in 2023. The majority of counterfeit
articles consistently originated from China, Hong Kong SAR, and
Turkey.
The data shows enforcement agencies are increasingly targeting
higher-value counterfeit products including fake automotive
parts, and electrical articles, which pose greater safety risks
to consumers.
This baseline report establishes a framework for annual reporting
on UK border enforcement activity, providing valuable insights
for businesses, rights holders, and enforcement agencies working
to combat IP crime.
The report will be of particular interest to brand owners, legal
professionals, trading standards officers, and businesses seeking
to protect their intellectual property rights.
The government will provide ongoing updates on border enforcement
activity as part of broader transparency commitments, including
annual publication of this data. This work helps maintain the
UK's position as a global leader in innovation through upholding
our world-class framework for IP protection and enforcement.
Working in partnership with industry and law enforcement
agencies, we are disrupting criminals while directly supporting
the government's mission to drive economic growth.
