With the new Premier League season kicking off next month, Barking and Dagenham Council is urging residents to be cautious when purchasing football shirts and sportswear from markets, pop-up stalls and online sellers, following the seizure of counterfeit goods in the borough.

On Monday 6 July, the council’s Trading Standards officers seized 80 counterfeit football shirts and shorts falsely claiming to be authentic England kits and merchandise from popular Premier League clubs, including Chelsea, Manchester City and West Ham United. Investigations are ongoing to identify the source of the goods.

While counterfeit football shirts may appear to offer a bargain, they are often poor quality, do not meet expected safety standards and can leave consumers out of pocket. The sale of counterfeit goods is also linked to organised criminal activity, including modern slavery, human trafficking and other serious forms of exploitation.

Councillor Syed Ghani, Cabinet Member for Enforcement and Community Safety said: "With the new football season just around the corner, we know many fans will be looking to buy the latest kits and merchandise. We want residents to stay safe and think carefully before purchasing from unofficial sellers.”

Residents with concerns about counterfeit goods being sold in Barking and Dagenham can report them to Trading Standards by emailing tradingstandards@lbbd.gov.uk.