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.”
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..”
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.''
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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”
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
Please click to view syllabus