Whether
you call them pirate, knock-off or dodgy DVDs,
it doesn't matter. Before you pick up the phone
and report someone involved in the sale or production
of illegal DVDs in your local area or on the internet
here are things you might want to know.
1.
Your call is completely anonymous.
Crimestoppers
is an independent charity and allows anyone with
details of criminal activity to pass them on anonymously,
without fear of exposure or retribution.
All
it takes is one call to 0800 555 111.
No one knows the identity of the caller, except
you, the caller.
2.
What happens to people involved in this type of
crime?
In
2006, 227 court cases were brought against people
for copyright theft with 116 resulting in custodial
sentences. The maximum penalty is 10 years imprisonment
and/or an unlimited fine.
3.
Copyright theft is not a victimless crime.
A
commonly held misconception is that selling illegal
DVDs is a crime that doesn't hurt anyone. This
is simply not true.
Theft
(or piracy) brings harm to local communities and
often has links to organised criminal networks.
This
is not good for society at large.
Think about where the money from your knock-off
DVD goes...
Crimestoppers
has joined with FACT to make
it as easy as possible for you to report criminal
activity related to the manufacture, distribution
and sale of pirate DVDs as well as people using
the internet to make stolen films and TV programmes
available.
If
you have any information which might be of use
to us please call us today.
