Deputy Chief Constable praises officers at Policing Board

The work of the Police Service of Northern Ireland’s Intellectual Property Crime Unit, part of the Crime Operations Department has been praised by Deputy Chief Constable Paul Leighton.

The Crime Unit seized counterfeit goods worth over £300,000 in the month of April taking the seized good total this year to £1.9 milion.

Speaking at the Policing Board in Belfast, Deputy Chief Constable Paul Leighton said: “This is another fantastic result for PSNI. Four and a half thousand DVDs, one and a half thousand CDs and nearly 500 video games were seized by the Intellectual Property Crime Unit, along with cigarettes, alcohol and clothes. This brings the total seized so far this year to £1.9m. Twenty people have been arrested in connection with intellectual property crime, and four people have been charged.

“These fake goods make quick profits for criminals but end up causing damage to legitimate businesses and potential harm to customers think they’re getting a bargain. It is further proof that the police service is determined to crack down on this illegal activity.”

Mr Leighton also told the Board that the Police Service of Northern Ireland continues to work with partnership agencies to tackle organised crime.

He said officers from Crime Operators’ Organised Crime Squad (C1) are currently assisting the Serious and Organised Crime Agency with an investigation into the distribution of counterfeit £1 coins between Northern Ireland and England.

The Deputy Chief Constable also praised CID officers in Belfast, who last month interviewed and charged a man with nine counts of armed robbery following a number of crimes at small shops and off licences in south Belfast last January. The man has since appeared at Belfast Magistrates Court and has been remanded in custody.

Mr Leighton also made special mention of a female officer, who, in her first week of service after completing initial training, arrested a youth armed with a knife who was suspected of attempting to burgle a house.

The officer entered the rear of the house alone and confronted the youth. Her colleagues swiftly moved in to assist and the arrest was made without any injury to members of the public or police. The male was later charged with two attempted burglaries and various motoring offences.

“This is yet another example of the sterling work officers are carrying out across Northern Ireland,” said Mr Leighton.

(JM/SP)