This week Nominet received an instruction from the Metropolitan Police's Central e-Crime Unit (PCeU) to take down around 1200 .co.uk domain names. These domain names have been under investigation for criminal activity. 

As part of Operation Papworth, the PCeU have targeted web sites run by organised criminal networks that purported to sell designer items - clothes, jewellery and electronic goods.  Many of the sites involved supplied counterfeit goods or in some cases simply failed to supply any goods to the consumers who placed orders.

We worked closely with the police and our registrars to quickly carry out the instruction to shut down access to these sites.

Nominet is committed to making the Internet a safe place for all users.  The vast majority of .uk domains are legitimate, but where there are investigations about improper or illegal activity, we work with law enforcement bodies such as the Metropolitan Police, to help identify and remove .uk web sites linked to criminal activity. Always our aim is to take fast, effective and responsible action to protect consumers and end users.