UK Border Force, with help from UK IPO and HMRC, stopped more than £500m of fake goods entering the UK between 2021 and 2023, new report says
8 Dec 2025
Author
Martin Croft
PR & Communications Manager
Photo by Towfiqu barbhuiya on Unsplash
UK Border Force, with the help of the UK Intellectual Property Office and HMRC, 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., according to the newly published UK Customs Intellectual Property Enforcement Report 2021-2023.
This report is the first comprehensive review of the enforcement of IP rights at the UK’s borders since the UK left the European Union.
Covering the period from 1 January 2021 to 31 December 2023, it reveals significant trends in intellectual property (IP) crime.
The amount of suspected counterfeit articles seized varied over the three-year period. In 2021, over 3 million articles were seized. By 2023 this reduced to just over 1 million seized articles. Of those seizures, 95% were confirmed counterfeit in 2021 and 89% in 2023. Confirmed counterfeits were destroyed. The expected retail value of destroyed articles increased from £142 million in 2021 to over £200 million in 2023. This indicates a trend towards higher retail value articles in lower volumes.
The leading suspected counterfeit articles type changed between 2021 and 2022. In 2021, over 2 million suspected counterfeit medical articles were seized. Increased demand for medical articles during Covid-19 and supply chain disruptions provided counterfeiters with new opportunities to exploit. However, counterfeit clothing remained consistent during all three years. Following the influx of medical products in 2021, clothing was the top category of suspected counterfeit articles for the remaining two years.
Trade marks were the highest infringed single IP right, representing 93% of seized articles in 2021, 72% in 2022, and 74% in 2023. In 2021, this was due to the increase in detention of medical products, which masked other trends. The amount of multiple IP rights infringing articles grew, from 1.5% in 2021 to 12.5% by 2023.
China, Hong Kong SAR and Türkiye accounted for the majority of seizures during the three-year period. This picture was also reflected in the EU Directorate-General for Taxation and Customs Union (DG-TAXUD) reporting over the same timeframe.
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 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 UK government says 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.
Adam Williams, Chief Executive and Comptroller-General of the UK IPO, says in the foreword to the report:
“Sharing these insights with our enforcement partners, rights holders and international counterparts strengthens our collective ability to combat this criminal activity. The findings reinforce the importance of coordinated action - recognising IP crime as both a global and local threat.”
He adds:
“Effective action against counterfeit trade requires strong partnerships between industry, government and law enforcement. I would like to thank our colleagues at HMRC and Border Force, and our enforcement partners whose dedicated work makes this vital protection possible. This work helps to maintain the UK’s position as a global leader in innovation and uphold our world class system of intellectual property protection. By working together, we are not only disrupting criminals but also directly supporting the government’s mission to drive economic growth.
Together, we will continue building the UK’s reputation as a trusted destination for creativity and investment - a place where brilliant ideas are born, protected, and unleashed to thrive.
Photo by Towfiqu barbhuiya on Unsplash
UK Border Force, with the help of the UK Intellectual Property Office and HMRC, 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., according to the newly published UK Customs Intellectual Property Enforcement Report 2021-2023.
This report is the first comprehensive review of the enforcement of IP rights at the UK’s borders since the UK left the European Union.
Covering the period from 1 January 2021 to 31 December 2023, it reveals significant trends in intellectual property (IP) crime.
The amount of suspected counterfeit articles seized varied over the three-year period. In 2021, over 3 million articles were seized. By 2023 this reduced to just over 1 million seized articles. Of those seizures, 95% were confirmed counterfeit in 2021 and 89% in 2023. Confirmed counterfeits were destroyed. The expected retail value of destroyed articles increased from £142 million in 2021 to over £200 million in 2023. This indicates a trend towards higher retail value articles in lower volumes.
The leading suspected counterfeit articles type changed between 2021 and 2022. In 2021, over 2 million suspected counterfeit medical articles were seized. Increased demand for medical articles during Covid-19 and supply chain disruptions provided counterfeiters with new opportunities to exploit. However, counterfeit clothing remained consistent during all three years. Following the influx of medical products in 2021, clothing was the top category of suspected counterfeit articles for the remaining two years.
Trade marks were the highest infringed single IP right, representing 93% of seized articles in 2021, 72% in 2022, and 74% in 2023. In 2021, this was due to the increase in detention of medical products, which masked other trends. The amount of multiple IP rights infringing articles grew, from 1.5% in 2021 to 12.5% by 2023.
China, Hong Kong SAR and Türkiye accounted for the majority of seizures during the three-year period. This picture was also reflected in the EU Directorate-General for Taxation and Customs Union (DG-TAXUD) reporting over the same timeframe.
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 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 UK government says 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.
Adam Williams, Chief Executive and Comptroller-General of the UK IPO, says in the foreword to the report:
“Sharing these insights with our enforcement partners, rights holders and international counterparts strengthens our collective ability to combat this criminal activity. The findings reinforce the importance of coordinated action - recognising IP crime as both a global and local threat.”
He adds:
“Effective action against counterfeit trade requires strong partnerships between industry, government and law enforcement. I would like to thank our colleagues at HMRC and Border Force, and our enforcement partners whose dedicated work makes this vital protection possible. This work helps to maintain the UK’s position as a global leader in innovation and uphold our world class system of intellectual property protection. By working together, we are not only disrupting criminals but also directly supporting the government’s mission to drive economic growth.
Together, we will continue building the UK’s reputation as a trusted destination for creativity and investment - a place where brilliant ideas are born, protected, and unleashed to thrive.
Photo by Towfiqu barbhuiya on Unsplash
UK Border Force, with the help of the UK Intellectual Property Office and HMRC, 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., according to the newly published UK Customs Intellectual Property Enforcement Report 2021-2023.
This report is the first comprehensive review of the enforcement of IP rights at the UK’s borders since the UK left the European Union.
Covering the period from 1 January 2021 to 31 December 2023, it reveals significant trends in intellectual property (IP) crime.
The amount of suspected counterfeit articles seized varied over the three-year period. In 2021, over 3 million articles were seized. By 2023 this reduced to just over 1 million seized articles. Of those seizures, 95% were confirmed counterfeit in 2021 and 89% in 2023. Confirmed counterfeits were destroyed. The expected retail value of destroyed articles increased from £142 million in 2021 to over £200 million in 2023. This indicates a trend towards higher retail value articles in lower volumes.
The leading suspected counterfeit articles type changed between 2021 and 2022. In 2021, over 2 million suspected counterfeit medical articles were seized. Increased demand for medical articles during Covid-19 and supply chain disruptions provided counterfeiters with new opportunities to exploit. However, counterfeit clothing remained consistent during all three years. Following the influx of medical products in 2021, clothing was the top category of suspected counterfeit articles for the remaining two years.
Trade marks were the highest infringed single IP right, representing 93% of seized articles in 2021, 72% in 2022, and 74% in 2023. In 2021, this was due to the increase in detention of medical products, which masked other trends. The amount of multiple IP rights infringing articles grew, from 1.5% in 2021 to 12.5% by 2023.
China, Hong Kong SAR and Türkiye accounted for the majority of seizures during the three-year period. This picture was also reflected in the EU Directorate-General for Taxation and Customs Union (DG-TAXUD) reporting over the same timeframe.
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 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 UK government says 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.
Adam Williams, Chief Executive and Comptroller-General of the UK IPO, says in the foreword to the report:
“Sharing these insights with our enforcement partners, rights holders and international counterparts strengthens our collective ability to combat this criminal activity. The findings reinforce the importance of coordinated action - recognising IP crime as both a global and local threat.”
He adds:
“Effective action against counterfeit trade requires strong partnerships between industry, government and law enforcement. I would like to thank our colleagues at HMRC and Border Force, and our enforcement partners whose dedicated work makes this vital protection possible. This work helps to maintain the UK’s position as a global leader in innovation and uphold our world class system of intellectual property protection. By working together, we are not only disrupting criminals but also directly supporting the government’s mission to drive economic growth.
Together, we will continue building the UK’s reputation as a trusted destination for creativity and investment - a place where brilliant ideas are born, protected, and unleashed to thrive.
Photo by Towfiqu barbhuiya on Unsplash
UK Border Force, with the help of the UK Intellectual Property Office and HMRC, 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., according to the newly published UK Customs Intellectual Property Enforcement Report 2021-2023.
This report is the first comprehensive review of the enforcement of IP rights at the UK’s borders since the UK left the European Union.
Covering the period from 1 January 2021 to 31 December 2023, it reveals significant trends in intellectual property (IP) crime.
The amount of suspected counterfeit articles seized varied over the three-year period. In 2021, over 3 million articles were seized. By 2023 this reduced to just over 1 million seized articles. Of those seizures, 95% were confirmed counterfeit in 2021 and 89% in 2023. Confirmed counterfeits were destroyed. The expected retail value of destroyed articles increased from £142 million in 2021 to over £200 million in 2023. This indicates a trend towards higher retail value articles in lower volumes.
The leading suspected counterfeit articles type changed between 2021 and 2022. In 2021, over 2 million suspected counterfeit medical articles were seized. Increased demand for medical articles during Covid-19 and supply chain disruptions provided counterfeiters with new opportunities to exploit. However, counterfeit clothing remained consistent during all three years. Following the influx of medical products in 2021, clothing was the top category of suspected counterfeit articles for the remaining two years.
Trade marks were the highest infringed single IP right, representing 93% of seized articles in 2021, 72% in 2022, and 74% in 2023. In 2021, this was due to the increase in detention of medical products, which masked other trends. The amount of multiple IP rights infringing articles grew, from 1.5% in 2021 to 12.5% by 2023.
China, Hong Kong SAR and Türkiye accounted for the majority of seizures during the three-year period. This picture was also reflected in the EU Directorate-General for Taxation and Customs Union (DG-TAXUD) reporting over the same timeframe.
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 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 UK government says 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.
Adam Williams, Chief Executive and Comptroller-General of the UK IPO, says in the foreword to the report:
“Sharing these insights with our enforcement partners, rights holders and international counterparts strengthens our collective ability to combat this criminal activity. The findings reinforce the importance of coordinated action - recognising IP crime as both a global and local threat.”
He adds:
“Effective action against counterfeit trade requires strong partnerships between industry, government and law enforcement. I would like to thank our colleagues at HMRC and Border Force, and our enforcement partners whose dedicated work makes this vital protection possible. This work helps to maintain the UK’s position as a global leader in innovation and uphold our world class system of intellectual property protection. By working together, we are not only disrupting criminals but also directly supporting the government’s mission to drive economic growth.
Together, we will continue building the UK’s reputation as a trusted destination for creativity and investment - a place where brilliant ideas are born, protected, and unleashed to thrive.
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Copyright © Inngot Limited 2019-2025. All rights reserved.
Inngot's online platform identifies all your intangible assets and demonstrates their value to lenders, investors, acquirers, licensees and stakeholders
Accreditations
Copyright © Inngot Limited 2019-2025. All rights reserved.
Inngot's online platform identifies all your intangible assets and demonstrates their value to lenders, investors, acquirers, licensees and stakeholders
Accreditations
Copyright © Inngot Limited 2019-2025. All rights reserved.
Inngot's online platform identifies all your intangible assets and demonstrates their value to lenders, investors, acquirers, licensees and stakeholders
Accreditations
Copyright © Inngot Limited 2019-2025. All rights reserved.