Fake footwear seized from Elephant market shipped to Zambia

The designer knock-offs were forfeited to the council by the courts following the successful prosecution of a Elephant & Castle market trader under the Trade Marks Act 1994.

The council then agreed to donate all items to the National Police Aid Convoy (NPAC), a charity devoted to providing less fortunate people with clothing, medical equipment and other goods all over the world.

David Scott, a retired Nottinghamshire police inspector and chairman of NPAC, said: "This donation from Southwark Council is greatly appreciated and will go to people who are most at need in Zambia.

"We will de-brand the footwear by cutting out labels and logos, pack them in a container and ship them to people who are in desperate need."

Cllr Michael Situ, cabinet member for community safety, said: "I am very happy to be able to contribute to such a deserving charity whose humanitarian efforts have helped so many people around the world.

"While counterfeit goods have no place on Southwark's highstreets, once de-branded they will be invaluable to people in great need rather than profit earners for irresponsible traders."