The Independent Garage Association (IGA) has officially welcomed the Intellectual Property Office’s (IPO) decision to extend funding for the Police Intellectual Property Crime Unit (PIPCU), a move seen as a vital win for garage safety and consumer protection.
The announcement confirms that the specialist City of London Police unit will receive funding for a further three years. The unit plays a crucial role in disrupting the criminal networks responsible for flooding the market with counterfeit and unverified vehicle parts.
The issue of counterfeit components is more than just a matter of lost revenue. Fake parts, ranging from brake pads to sensors, often bypass rigorous testing but are packaged to look like genuine OEM or high-quality aftermarket components.
Why it Matters
The IGA warns that substandard components can fail without warning, putting drivers at risk.
Garages can face immense challenges when unverified parts enter their workshops, particularly through the growing trend of customer-supplied components.
Maintaining a strict policy on parts provenance is not just about quality control, it’s about protecting the business from the legal and safety fallout of the counterfeit trade.
Related: Thousands of dangerous counterfeit car parts seized in UK crackdown
Too often, parts brought in by customers originate from unknown online sources, making their provenance impossible to trace.
Jonathan Douglass, Director of the IGA, said: “The IPO’s leadership in tackling intellectual property crime and supporting enforcement activity is essential in protecting consumers and legitimate businesses.
“It also helps address the growing issue of customer-supplied parts, which too often originate from unknown sources.”
The IGA has worked alongside the IPO for several years to raise awareness of these dangers.
With PIPCU’s funding now secured for another three-year term, the IGA plans to continue its campaign to educate motorists on the importance of using trusted garages and high-quality, traceable components.
