The Police Intellectual Property Crime Unit (PIPCU) welcomed Helen Goodman, the Shadow Minister for Culture, Media and Sport, to their offices on July 8.
The Labour MP was met by City of London Police Commander Steve Head, National Police Economic Crime Coordinator, and the Head of PIPCU at the City of London Police’s Economic Crime Directorate.
The PIPCU Prevention and Disruption team gave her an update into how they are disrupting illegal websites and the work of Operation Creative, with the advertising and creative industries to prevent websites from providing unauthorised access to copyrighted content.
Mrs Goodman also heard about the unit’s Infringing Website List (IWL) which is available to those involved in the sale and trade of digital advertising and about some of the latest enforcement activity. This included the recent investigation into counterfeit car paint application products which led to the arrest of three men and seizure of 2,500 boxes of fake goods believed to be worth over £100,000.
Steve Head, who is the Police National Coordinator for Economic Crime, said: “PIPCU is the UK’s only unit dedicated to tackling online intellectual property (IP) crime and has quickly become a key component in the wider national and international response to economic crime now being provided by the City of London Police.
“Intellectual property crime is a growing threat to the UK economy, undermining our creative industries and threatening legitimate businesses and the people they employ.
“Consumers also need to be aware that when illegally downloading music or films or buying fake handbags or jewellery, they could be supporting the work of serious and organised criminals who use the proceeds of IP crime to fund other activities such as human trafficking and terrorism. It is therefore vital that the UK has an effective and credible response to this threat in the form of PIPCU, working in close collaboration with Government and industry partners.”
And Helen Goodman MP, said: “Illegal downloading and online rip-offs costs the UK economy hundreds of millions a year. I was delighted to meet the officers at PIPCU and to discuss the vital strategic and operational work they are doing to combat these crimes. As more and more crime moves online, it is essential that we have this sort of expertise and leadership.”
About PIPCU
A specialist police unit launched in September 2013 and initially funded by the Intellectual Property Office (IPO), it’s part of the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills. The unit is based within the Economic Crime Directorate of the City of London Police, the National Policing Lead for Fraud.
