London, November 6, 2024. FACT held their annual Excellence Awards at Guildhall East, London to celebrate the exceptional efforts of police and law enforcement individuals in the fight against piracy. The ceremony recognised a total of 12 individual recipients and three teams for their outstanding work in investigating intellectual property (IP) crime.

Awardees included police officers and investigators from across the UK and Ireland, including Merseyside Police, the Police Service of Northern Ireland, the Yorkshire and Humber Regional Organised Crime Unit, and the National Crime Agency.

Trading Standards officers from Cornwall Council, the London Boroughs of Redbridge and Barking & Dagenham, along with the e-crime team from the City of York Council were also acknowledged for their significant impact on the fight against IP crime.

Team awards were presented to Merseyside Police the Police Intellectual Property Crime Unit and the South Wales Tarian Proactive Economic Crime Team for their collaborative efforts in tackling IP crime.

Kieron Sharp, CEO of FACT, said:

“These awards are a testament to the hard work and commitment of those who strive to protect intellectual property rights. Each recipient has played a crucial role, and we are proud to honour those who have gone above and beyond in their investigative work.

 “The dedication of these recipients has not gone unnoticed. Piracy not only undermines the efforts of creators but also fuels organised crime, posing significant risks to our wider communities. Their exceptional contributions highlight the importance of our collective mission to combat this threat.”

 The FACT Excellence Awards, sponsored by QEB Hollis Whiteman, celebrate individuals who have made significant contributions to protecting intellectual property rights in the UK. FACT are dedicated to collaborating with law enforcement to combat piracy and safeguard intellectual property. These awards emphasise the importance of this collaborative effort.