The new Film Piracy Unit will, with the help of FACT, the UK
film and broadcast industry’s anti-piracy organisation, collate
intelligence on crime trends and criminal activity in the area of
film piracy.
The unit, made up of one Detective Sergeant and four Detective
Constables, will be committed to the targeted investigation of
pirate networks and will not only be seeking to prosecute those
involved, but also to use the Proceeds of Crime Act 2002 (POCA) to
attack the financial rewards earned by the criminals.
POCA sets out tough rules that allow Courts to confiscate assets
from criminals, unless they can prove that the assets were not
derived from crime.
“This will clearly send a message that this type of crime will
not pay,” said Detective Chief Superintendent Nigel Mawer, Head of
Economic and Specialist Crime Command and the officer in overall
charge of the unit.
The unit will run for a trial period of 12 months.
