A large number of suspected counterfeit trainers and unsafe vapes have been seized following an operation supported by the South East Regional Organised Crime Unit’s (SEROCU’s) Disruptions Team.

Last week officers from SEROCU joined Buckinghamshire & Surrey Trading Standards, the Anti-Counterfeiting Group, The Intellectual Property Office and Surrey Police at Kempton Market to stop the sale of unsafe and counterfeit products.

As a result more than 140 pairs of shoes and around 200 vapes were seized.

Sergeant Ricci Dolan, of SEROCU, said: “We supported Trading Standards in an effort to prevent counterfeit and unsafe goods from entering our communities and causing harm.

“Usually the market has a large number of sellers however this number was greatly reduced last week which we believe was due to our presence, discouraging stallholders who may have been trying to sell such goods from doing so.

“We’re committed to working with our partners to stop the sale of counterfeit and unsafe goods across the South East.

“We cannot tackle organised crime alone. Police rely on information from the public to help inform officers about issues in their area. If you wish to report something, please contact your local police force on the non-emergency number 101 or online via their website. You can also report information anonymously to the independent charity Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.”