The Intellectual Property Office and Police Intellectual Property Crime Unit (PIPCU) are changing the way IP rights holders and enforcement partners can submit intelligence relating to IP crime for analysis or investigation.
From 11th August 2025, the IPO is launching a new online webform to enable submissions to be received directly by the IPO’s Intelligence Gateway team. This webform will replace the previous PIPCU referral form, and visitors to the PIPCU webpage will now be redirected to the IPO when reporting intelligence.
The Gateway team will conduct an initial assessment and prioritise submissions to determine the most appropriate course of action. This could include further intelligence development using the IPO’s own capabilities, or onward referral to a law enforcement agency for criminal investigation. The IPO will liaise with PIPCU, Trading Standards and other law enforcement agencies to explore all potential avenues for disruption.
The Gateway team consists of intelligence officers and intelligence managers who are trained by the College of Policing. They work closely with the IPO’s financial investigators and intelligence analysts to develop intelligence packages appropriate for onward referral to law enforcement. The Gateway team also works with the IPO’s IP Crime Coordinator network, who are embedded within Trading Standards regions and collaborate with law enforcement partners and stakeholders to gather intelligence and help disrupt IP crime.
Kate Caffery, Deputy Director of Intelligence and Law Enforcement at the IPO said, “This change is an important step in ensuring that police can focus their resources where they’re needed most. It will also support the IPO in coordinating IP crime intelligence nationally, helping to ensure that IP rights in the UK remain among the best protected in the world.”
The new webform can be accessed here: IPO Webform
Members of the public should continue to report the sale of goods they believe are counterfeit to their local Trading Standards or to Crimestoppers online.