What services can we provide?

Brand Protection

Brand protection is the act of preventing illegal production and trading of a product using a brands intellectual property. This helps brands to prevent loss in revenue, maintain a high brand reputation and address potential consumer safety.

With a wide range of specialists within this area WRi offer a bespoke brand protection service to a range of sectors.

Review of IP Portfolio

Liaison with Public Sector Agencies

Product Identification

Provision of Witness Statements

“WRi is our lead investigative service provider in the UK and Ireland, providing a comprehensive and highly successful range of investigative services to support our IP enforcement programme, as well as providing a 24/7 liaison service for us with law enforcement agencies.”

Leading Global Technology Company

Investigation

Investigations utilise the proactive intelligence and evidence gathered through test purchases and site visits to compile a full evidential pack to be used for criminal prosecution or civil litigation. These investigations provide brands the opportunity to take enforcement action and reduce the production and availability of counterfeit goods.

This is one of the key services at WRi due to the broad knowledge and experience of the team within a range of investigation disciplines.

Development of Intelligence

Test Purchase Activity

Case and Financial Investigation

Liaison with Enforcement Bodies

Attendance at Raid Actions

Provision of Witness Statements

Online Monitoring

Preparation of Case Material

“WRi have provided a high quality service to us for many years now. They provide test purchases, investigations, law enforcement liaison and legal services that are highly professional. They are able to provide a complete service from a team that holds a vast amount of experience across many sectors whilst always endeavouring to deliver ‘value’ to their client..”

Mike Thomas - Brand Protection Manager, Superdry

Intelligence Management

Intelligence is the collection and processing of raw information. Using a broad array of sources and data collection tools WRi will develop key intelligence products (NIM / IOM) which will enable clients to make decisions about priorities and tactical options to mitigate risk.

WRi have provided this service to Law Enforcement and Industry sector agencies to great effect.

Information Collection

Intelligence Products

Intelligence Reports

Dissemination

Charting

Analysis

“'Congratulations to WRi on their 10-year anniversary. Over the last 8 years WRi has provided ACG with Intelligence management and coordination services which has been instrumental in promoting and delivering ACG’s intelligence led projects for the benefit of all our members. I am delighted to celebrate WRi’s past achievements but also their commitment to help ACG to build an even more collaborative approach to combat the growing threats of the trade in fakes.''

Phil Lewis, Director General

Training

Continuous Professional development of staff is paramount in an ever changing public and private sector enforcement landscape.

With a rich experience in practical enforcement and training, WRi have developed a range of subject matter training modules which can be delivered in a classroom environment or via a distance learning package

Custody Procedures

Crime Scene Investigation

Case Management

Consumer Rights Act

Police and Criminal Evidence Act

Rules of Evidence

RIPA and Disclosure (CPIA)

Investigative Interviewing

“The WRi Group have delivered several training courses for TSSE (Trading Standards South East Limited) since 2017 and have provided the region and the delegates who have attended their courses with very high quality training. Working with the WRi group is a pleasure, as they are so organised, quick to respond to enquiries, very thorough with their preparation and delivery. I would highly recommend the WRi Group for training in these areas”

Trading Standards South East Limited

Private Criminal Prosecution

Whilst it is expected that prosecuting authorities will deal with the majority of criminal matters in the UK, the reduction in some agencies in particular Trading Standards has led to an increase in the use of Private Criminal Prosecutions.

WRi, working in partnership with local law enforcement agencies, established legal firms and Barristers Chambers will develop an investigation in line with regulatory requirements and where appropriate will undertake a Private Criminal prosecution with a view to securing a conviction against an individual or crime group impacting on our clients

Identify Offending

Investigate Offender/Crime Groups

Collect Evidence

Liaise with Law Enforcement

Support Raid Action

Prepare detailed prosecution file

Initiate Court proceedings

Provide Witness Testimony

Civil Recovery

Our Civil Recovery Programme (CRP) aims to identify and take action against mid to high level traders, based in the UK and Ireland, who are impacting on one or more of our client brands. All on-line and physical platforms / locations are reviewed to ensure that individuals, companies or groups, that are made subject to the programme, are operating at a ‘criminal threshold’.

WRi Group work with established legal firms to deliver this programme. To date we have a 95% success rate, recouping monies and products from active counterfeiters impacting on our clients.

Identify Offending

Investigate

Obtaining Evidence

Complete Relevant Documentation

Liaise with Legal Partner to engage the offender

Recover Funds for our clients

WRi Academy

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