Counterfeit Paddington Bear merchandise worth £9,500 seized in Oxford Street shop raids

More than 550 tote bags and 200 t-shirts, arsenic good arsenic changeable glasses, magnets, hoodies and signs were confiscated by Westminster Council arsenic portion of the cognition connected Saturday (October 19).

The unofficial merchandise was each emblazoned with images of Paddington Bear - Westminster’s celebrated furry character, created by children’s writer Michael Bond successful the 1950s.

The raids came days earlier Paddington successful Peru - the 3rd movie successful the deed Paddington bid - was acceptable to beryllium released successful cinemas.

Westminster City Council’s Trading Standard squad stormed 9 shops successful the Oxford Street area, seizing £9,500 worthy of Paddington-themed goods.

Representatives from Surelock, acting connected behalf of Paddington & Co, were besides determination to assistance to place items that illegally utilized trademarks and copyrighted worldly without the owner’s permission.

“When it comes to protecting Westminster's consumers the assembly provides much than the carnivore necessities,” a Westminster Council spokesperson quipped aft the raids.

“This latest sting is portion of a wider cognition by the assembly targeting unscrupulous businesses connected Europe’s premier buying destination that proceed to merchantability counterfeit goods oregon American candy oregon snacks containing banned ingredients.”

Leader of Westminster City Council, Cllr Adam Hug said: “Trying to con shoppers successful Westminster with fake Paddington goods is bear-faced feature we won’t basal for.

“Our occupation is to guarantee shoppers get what they wage for. Big retail names are making a invited instrumentality to Oxford Street and rogue traders person been a blemish connected the country for excessively long.

“People trying to fleece Paddington fans person felt the long-arm of the paw, and truthful volition anyone who tries to rip disconnected customers successful Westminster.”

Ron Harrison, Managing Director of Surelock said: “We are highly grateful to the team, carrying retired enforcement enactment astatine truthful galore premises successful 1 day, it was unprecedented, everyone worked precise hard.”

More than 600 items, including Lucky Charms, Cheetos, Takis, KitKats, Lion Bars, Fanta cans and Jolly Ranchers, were seized successful the cognition by Westminster Council’s biology wellness team, due to the fact that they contained perchance harmful ingredients banned successful the UK.