Latest News / Archive - October 2008

2nd October 2008

HACKNEY CLAMPS DOWN ON ILLEGAL TRADE IN COUNTERFEIT DVDS

Businesses in Hackney, East London are being warned that it is illegal to allow counterfeit goods, such as DVDs, to be sold on their premises.

Trading Standards and police officers, in partnership with the Federation Against Copyright Theft (FACT) have visited over 120 businesses around Mare Street, in the last two weeks, to advise them that it is their responsibility to make sure counterfeits are not sold on or from their premises.

Cllr Alan Laing, Cabinet Member for Neighbourhoods said: “Local businesses need to work with us to stop counterfeit DVDs being sold in our cafes, bars, newsagents and hairdressers. Not only do people not want to have offensive DVDs pushed under their noses, this is criminal activity and the businesses are risking prosecution themselves.”

Information packs have been distributed to businesses which set out the penalties for either selling counterfeit goods or allowing someone else to sell counterfeit goods. It can result in a prison sentence or up to 10 years and/or an unlimited fine, as well as having a trade licence revoked.

Sergeant Michaela Medcraft of Hackney’s Chatham ward, said: “This is not a victimless crime; counterfeiting is known to have links to organised crime and we will continue to work with our partners to make sure we tackle this illegal activity. The feedback we have had from businesses and local residents has been overwhelmingly positive and the campaign will hopefully raise awareness amongst local business people of their responsibilities.”

Kieron Sharp, FACT Director General, added: “I am delighted to help launch this unique and innovative approach to curb the criminal sale of knock off DVDs in Hackney.”

Two black Labradors owned by the Motion Picture Association and FACT, Lucky and Flo, the first animals in the world to be trained to sniff out optical discs, were also used to check that no DVDs were being stored in shops on Mare Street. The dogs will be making return visits to Hackney in the near future.

Window stickers, in English and Mandarin which warn that counterfeit sellers are not welcome inside have also been widely distributed.

If you are offered goods of any type which you think may be counterfeit or stolen call Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111

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29 October 2008

ISLINGTON POLICE RAID DVD HOUSE 

Islington Police, supported by the Federation Against Copyright Theft (FACT), executed a search warrant at a terraced house on the border of Islington and Haringey on Friday 17th October 2008.

It is believed the house in Ferndale Road, N15 was a significant storage location for the distribution of counterfeit DVD’s in London. Police found that the first-floor had been converted to display, distribute and sell counterfeit DVD’s.

 Approximately 50,000 DVD’s, with an estimated street value of £150,000, were recovered from the house. 

No arrests have been made at this stage as the property was unoccupied at the time of the raid.

Sergeant Mike Aldridge from the Islington Police Problem Solving Team, who set-up the operation, said: "This raid has seriously dented the network that supplies counterfeit DVDs on the streets of not only Islington and Haringey, but North London and beyond. My team will continue to work both covertly and in uniform to locate these premises, seize property and assets, and arrest the perpetrators not just involved in production, but also those selling on the streets." 

FACT Director General Kieron Sharp said:  "The trade in counterfeit DVDs brings harm to local communities and threatens local businesses and legitimate market traders.

I would like to thank the officers from the Islington Police Problem Solving Team for their assistance and their continued efforts to tackle this problem."

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