PIPCU win Special Commendation Award for second year running

The City of London Police’s Intellectual Property Crime Unit (PIPCU) has been awarded the Special Commendation Award for the second year in a row at this year’s Anti-Counterfeiting Group (ACG) Awards for Excellence.

The unit was awarded Highly Commended in the Special Commendation Award in recognition of their anti-counterfeiting enforcement work during the past year, The award is given to departments, teams or divisions in the police, customs (both HMRC and Border Force), government and/or overseas enforcement agencies for their contribution to the anti-counterfeiting effort.

T / Commander Clinton Blackburn, from the City of London Police, said:

“The unit has worked tirelessly over the past year to continue to bring  criminals to justice and I am delighted that their hard work and dedication has been recognised for the second year in a row.

“The award is extremely well deserved and recognises the excellent work undertaken by the team and highlights the importance and effectiveness of partnership working.”

In the last year, PIPCU has continued to work tirelessly to crack down on criminals committing intellectual property crime. Last month, the unit seized 12 tonnes of counterfeit goods in Manchester and in June, ahead of Euro 2020, the unit seized £80,000 worth of counterfeit football shirts.

The unit has also seized counterfeit car parts, illicit tobacco and cigarettes and counterfeit face masks, which police believe were going to be advertised as medical grade and sold online.

The unit has also seen a number of high profiles charges, including David Chambers, who admitted to administering a fake vaccine to a 92-year-old woman at her home and charged her £160.

Three officers were also recognised for their individual anti-counterfeit enforcement work during the past year. Detective Constable Daryl Fryatt was awarded Highly Commended in the Special Commendation Individual Award and Detective Constable Pete Gartland and another officer, who wishes to remain anonymous, were awarded Commended in the Special Commendation Individual Award.

PIPCU received the Special Commendation Award last year for their anti-counterfeiting enforcement work within the counterfeit region in Cheetham Hill, Manchester.

T/ Detective Inspector, Kevin Ives, Head of the Police Intellectual Property Crime Unit at City of London Police, said:

“I am extremely proud of the entire team for this achievement and to win the award two years in a row is a real testament to their hard work and dedication – especially over the past year with lockdown restrictions which has brought much uncertainty for everyone.

“We will continue to work closely with our partners, nationally and internationally, to tackle intellectual property crime.”

The winners were selected by the ACG Awards Committee and the team has been invited to a reception in September where they will be presented with their award in person.

The ACG works relentlessly with UK, EU and international governments and law enforcement agencies to shape an effective deterrent to counterfeiting, to protect business and consumers from the increasing dangers of counterfeit goods and IP crime.