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28th November 2011

Six Arrested in Crack Down on Organised Crime Illegal Trade in Counterfeit CDs and DVDs

• Government IP Minister Supports Anti-Counterfeiting Operation Driven by BPI and FACT Intelligence
• Investigation into Three Major Manchester Markets Uncovers Links to Organised Crime

28 November 2011, London - Six market traders suspected of producing and selling vast quantities of counterfeit CDs and DVDs were arrested during a series of raids co-ordinated by Greater Manchester Police as part of a wider initiative to crack down on organised crime.

Intelligence gathered by BPI (The British Recorded Music Industry), FACT (Federation Against Copyright Theft), Greater Manchester Police, the Intellectual Property Office (IPO), Trading Standards from Salford and Manchester, and the Department for Work and Pensions, identified a number of suspects that have been profiting from the sale of counterfeit goods at three major Manchester markets: Salford Market, Greymare Lane Market and Conran Street Market.

The Government Minister for Intellectual Property, Baroness Wilcox, joined the strikes which took place on Friday 25th November. The Operation, Project Gulf, led by Greater Manchester Police and its partners, will strike a blow to the counterfeit trade, especially in the run up to Christmas.

The recovered pirate CDs and DVDs - with a street value of tens of thousands of pounds – included new music releases from Rihanna, Michael Buble and The Saturdays, and movie releases Puss In Boots, yet to be released in UK cinemas, and Moneyball, which was only released last Friday. Other items retrieved include imitation firearms, knives, and Class A drugs. The suspects have been released on bail pending further investigation.

Minister for Intellectual Property Baroness Wilcox said: “The Intellectual Property Office has played an important part in helping to collect the intelligence for this operation in Manchester. It is fantastic to see so many organisations working together to disrupt criminal activity.

"The Government has already worked with the Crown Prosecution Service to develop training which will equip prosecutors to deal effectively with cases involving counterfeit goods. And we will continue to work with Trading Standards, the Police and CPS to share information and disrupt this type of criminal activity."

BPI Director of Anti-Piracy, David Wood, representing the recorded music sector, said: “Physical music piracy costs the record business more than £100million per year – a significant percentage of industry revenue. Buying and selling these fake CDs and DVDs strips artists of a fair reward for their music and deprives record companies – both big and small - of the capital required to invest in exciting new artists, merchandise and products that music fans deserve.

“We would like to thank Greater Manchester Police, Manchester City Council, and Salford Council for their professionalism and diligence in undertaking this collaborated approach to target the organised crime gangs who are manufacturing and distributing counterfeit CDs and DVD.”

Kieron Sharp, FACT Director General, added: “FACT and the BPI have been working for some time to gather detailed intelligence on the major organised criminal elements controlling the sale of counterfeit film, TV and music discs on markets across Greater Manchester.

“Traders in counterfeit goods are harming the livelihoods of legitimate traders and businesses and impacting on livelihoods of the hard working people who work in the UK’s creative industries.

“This operation proves the effectiveness of a multi-agency approach to tackling serious criminality, coordinated by Greater Manchester Police who have shown exemplary leadership.”

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17th November 2011

FILM PIRATE SENTENCED | CONVICTED OF RECORDING AND UPLOADING

Matthew Lisett aged 32 years from Fovant, Salisbury was given a two year conditional discharge at Salisbury Magistrates Court yesterday (Thursday 16th November 2011) for film piracy.

Following a joint operation between the Wiltshire Police Fraud Team which is based at Melksham, and FACT( Federation Against Copyright Theft), Lisett pleaded guilty to eight offences under the Copyright Designs and Patents Act, in Relation to Film Piracy Offences committed by him in 2010.

Lisett pleaded guilty to using camera equipment concealed under his clothing at the Salisbury Odeon Cinema, to make illegal recordings of four films during their preview screenings. He then sold some of these illegal copies to another individual online, for a total of £1,798.00.

The four films he recorded in the cinema and sold included: ‘Resident Evil 3D’, ‘Devil’, and ‘Going the Distance’. Lisett also pleaded guilty to obtaining illegal copies of another three films, and uploading them to the Internet, prior to their UK release dates. He also pleaded guilty to possessing modified camera equipment, which allowed him to film secretly in the cinema.

At the time of his arrest officers seized a large amount of computer and camera equipment from his address and an order has been made for the destruction of the equipment used.

Criminal Justice Investigator, Simon Thomas, from the Wiltshire Police Fraud Investigation Team said:

“Film Piracy has a significant financial loss to the film and cinema industry, which many people rely on for employment.

Members of the public pay for themselves and their families to go to the Cinema, this operation was aimed at those who sit next to them, and illegally record and sell the footage for their own personal gain.

Wiltshire Police will continue to work with FACT and take all complaints of fraud seriously.”

Kieron Sharp, FACT Director General, said:

"This conviction was the result of a painstaking investigation by FACT and Wiltshire Police along with Odeon that identified the source of a pirated copies of films that had been recorded by Lisett and uploaded to the internet for downloading, sharing and streaming by millions of people globally.

The fact that he was also receiving payment for those recordings is further proof that piracy at this level is an organised criminal activity, with profit as a motive.

I would like to commend Wiltshire Police and Odeon for their work in bringing this case to court. This is the fifth conviction in the UK for this type of criminal activity and I am sure it will serve as a warning to others thinking of attempting to record films in UK cinemas.

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10th November 2011

UK CINEMA STAFF REWARDED FOR PREVENTING PIRACY

11 employees from cinemas across the UK have been presented with awards totalling £7,000 for their efforts in preventing illegal recordings (so called ‘camcordings’) taking place.

The Federation Against Copyright Theft (‘FACT’) and the Film Distributors’ Association (‘FDA’) operate a training, prevention and reward scheme for all UK cinemas. Illegal recordings of films are the primary source for pirate copies worldwide - recordings are uploaded to the internet and made available within hours to millions of people. Film piracy in the UK alone costs legitimate businesses over half a billion pounds a year and directly threatens the jobs of tens of thousands of people who work across the film sector.

FACT works closely with cinema operators to ensure that staff are trained to detect and prevent such recordings, as well as assisting in raising awareness with police on this issue so they are able to assist when called to an incident.
FACT/FDA programme has engaged the support of exhibitors UK-wide. It has achieved great success in reducing the number of recordings taken from UK cinemas, making the UK one of the best protected countries.

Awards summary
• 11 cinema employees are due to receive awards for their actions
• All the incidents were reported to the police
• 5 incidents led to arrests (6 people arrested)
• 3 led to formal cautions in police custody
• 1 led to a landmark first ‘camcording’ conviction in Scotland in July 2011
• 1 is still on bail and pending further action by police
• A first-ever reward is being made to an employee (chief projectionist) from an Independent Cinema – The Regent at Leven, Fife.

At a specially-convened ceremony at Paramount Pictures, London, each received a cheque for several hundred pounds for their part in thwarting attempts to record films at their cinema.

All present received a warm welcome and congratulations from FDA Chief Executive Mark Batey who thanked all the award recipients for their vigilance and use of night vision devices, especially when digital recording devices are not easy to spot.

Kieron Sharp, FACT Director General, said that no-one should be in any doubt about the increasing sophistication of those trying to record films, and the increasing difficulty that detecting them presented to cinema staff. The success of those present was therefore particularly worth celebrating, he said, adding:
"These rewards prove the ongoing commitment from everyone working in the film sector to combat piracy. A recording captured in a cinema is the primary source for illicit online files and pirate DVDs and cinema staff are on the front line of the fight; continuing to prevent such recordings in the UK. I am delighted to be able to acknowledge and reward their achievements."

Awards were presented to:
Richard Rhodes Odeon Preston
Rebecca Ashton Odeon Rochdale
Daniel McGrath Empire Bishops Stortford
Solitaire Bascombe-Short Cineworld Bexleyheath
Charles Ellis Regent Leven Fife
Fayez Shuray Odeon Rochdale
Theo Griffiths Odeon Birmingham
Farooq Alamgir Cineworld Ilford
Richard Ricketts Cineworld Wood Green
Vickie Garner Junction Goole
Mike Wiles Cineworld Renfrew St

Each individual receiving a reward - in many cases matched by a similar amount from their employing company - did so as a result of the FDA-funded scheme available to any member of cinema staff involved in the successful apprehension of film thieves.

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22nd June 2011

7 YEARS IN JAIL FOR GANG BEHIND UK'S LARGEST ILLEGAL DVD FACTORY

Gang members who ran the UK's biggest counterfeit DVD factory have been sentenced on 21 June to a total of seven years and 10 months before Southwark Crown Court, after being found guilty of infringing copyright and conspiring to distribute illegally copied DVDs.

Police estimate at the height of its operation the gang was capable of generating £95,000 a day from this single location alone by reproducing up to quarter of a million fake titles a week that were then sold on the streets of London.

Gang members had developed a sophisticated distribution operation, couriering the burned DVDs across London to 15 'shops' in residential properties in Deptford and Lewisham. Large numbers of sellers would then visit the addresses on a daily basis and select the titles to sell at locations across London and the South East.

On 12 April before the Old Bailey, Mirza Amjad Beig, 45 from Hounslow was found guilty of two counts of infringing copyright and one of conspiracy to distribute items. Amin Zulfiqar, 28 from Feltham, Middlesex was also found guilty of one count of conspiracy to distribute articles infringing copyright.

The ringleaders of the crime, Prikshat Sharma, 27, and Rahul Divan, 35 pleaded guilty to charges of Conspiracy to Manufacture and Distribute Counterfeit DVD's Subject to Trade Mark in March this year.

A third man Ajay Singh Ahulawalia 50, also pleaded guilty to Conspiracy to Manufacture Subject to Trade Mark and concealing criminal property on the same day (21 March).

In 2009 a joint operation between City of London Police, Metropolitan Police and FACT (Federation Against Copyright Theft) saw the gang's illegal business closed down. Police raided two sites in Wembley and Southall, seizing millions of pounds worth of equipment that was used as evidence in the case.

Police confiscated a large-scale professional printing press, 440 DVD burners and 60,000 copied and packaged DVDs ready for distribution. The counterfeit titles included blockbuster movies including Slumdog Millionaire, The Curious Case of Benjamin Button, Watchmen, Gran Torino and Australia featuring stars such as Brad Pitt, Nicole Kidman, Cate Blanchett and Dev Patel. Police also discovered 250,000 blank discs and one million professionally printed full colour covers.

City of London Police Det Chief Insp Dave Evans who oversaw the operation said:

"Criminals are eager to target the Capital as a base for these activities, setting up factories and then taking advantage of the huge number of potential customers on their door step.

"But anyone who buys fake DVDs should think long and hard about what they're doing. This is not a victimless crime. It not only damages the film industry but the huge profits generated are also often used to fund other criminal activities.

These men ran an organised business, with a specialist factory capable of producing millions of fake DVDs. City of London Police has put them out of business for good with these convictions."

Kieron Sharp, FACT Director General, added:

"This was a sophisticated criminal enterprise producing millions of counterfeit DVDs and making substantial amounts of money for those running it.

Organised criminal gangs such as this threaten the livelihoods of the hundreds of thousands of people working in the UK's film and television industries and contribute nothing to the legitimate UK economy."

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28th January 2011

THREE ARRESTED IN RAID ON COUNTERFEIT DISC FACTORY

Three people were arrested on Wednesday 26th January, after officers from the Metropolitan Police Territorial Support Group, acting on intelligence supplied by the Federation Against Copyright Theft (FACT), raided a DVD counterfeiting factory in Thamesmead, London SE28.

More...

21st January 2011

TWO MEN SENTENCED OVER SUBSTANTIAL FAKE DVD OPERATION

Two men have received jail sentences after the Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI) Organised Crime Branch dismantled a substantial counterfeiting operation in Newtownards, Downpatrick and Belfast which was generating tens of thousand of pounds a month.
Stephen McCully, 33, of Bells Towers Belfast and James McComish, 42, of Lower Clay Road Downpatrick, were arrested on December 20 2009 following a proactive intelligence led covert operation by Organised Crime Branch’s Gold Team, working in partnership with the Federation Against Copyright Theft (FACT).

UTV news story here

10th January 2011

GUERNSEY MAN JAILED FOR IMPORTING COUNTERFEIT DVDS

A 45 year old man has been sentenced for bringing more than 3,000 counterfeit and pirated DVDs into Guernsey.

Matthew Le Page of St Sampson's, appeared before the Magistrates Court and will now serve four months in prison. The counterfeit DVDs were sent to his address between January and August 2009.

Acting on intelligence supplied by FACT, he was arrested by Guernsey Border Agency officers who found seven parcels full of DVDs sent from China in July that year, and ten more arrived over the following weeks.

BBC News story here

December 2010

12 MONTH SUSPENDED SENTENCE FOR NORTH-EAST COUNTERFEITER

On 7th December 2010 at Newcastle Combined Court Keith Gibson, age 50, of Houghton Le Spring was sentenced to 12 months imprisonment suspended for 24 months, £500 costs and an electronic tag with 8pm-6am curfew for 6 months.

Gibson was arrested at Rainton Meadows Arena car boot sale on 22nd February 2009 with a large number of counterfeit film DVDs.

October 2010

COUNTERFEIT GOODS WEBSITE SHUT DOWN | FIVE ARRESTED

A website which sold more than half a million pounds worth of counterfeit products has been shut down thanks to an 18 month covert operation – the biggest of its kind in the North West.  Five warrants were served to individuals based in Liverpool and Manchester – all of whom were arrested and bailed pending further investigation by Liverpool Trading Standards.

9th August 2010

MANCHESTER COUNTERFEIT FACTORY AND WAREHOUSE RAIDED

£65,000 OF COUNTERFEIT DISCS SEIZED

Raids last week in Manchester have closed down a pirate DVD factory and a major distribution warehouse, seizing discs with a total street value of over £65,000.

FACT and Manchester City Council Trading Standards officers raided a house in East Road, Longsight, M12 on Tuesday 3rd August after receiving intelligence that counterfeit goods were being stored there. The officers discovered a distribution centre for counterfeit goods, with piles of bogus music and film DVDs in three bedrooms.

They seized 17,000 discs of films such as The Sorcerer’s Apprentice, the Last Airbender and Despicable Me that have not yet gone on UK cinema release, as well as Inception which is currently showing in cinemas. None of these films are legally available yet on DVD.

A total of 77,000 printed colour inlay cards and 5,000 empty plastic DVD sleeves were also discovered.

A 46-year-old male and a 45-year-old female were arrested and released on bail while investigations are carried out.

A subsequent raid on Thursday 5th August at an address in Hillier Street North, Moston, M9 uncovered an illicit DVD ‘burning factory’ with over 14,000 films ready for onward distribution and burning towers operating when the property was entered. Tens of thousands of printed inlays with cover artwork awaiting DVDs were also seized.

David Royle, Manchester City Council’s Assistant Executive Member for the Environment, said: “I would like to praise our trading standards officers for getting these counterfeit items off the streets of Manchester.

“People who buy counterfeit DVDs may think they’re getting a good deal, but they should realise that anyone who buys them has very little chance of getting their money back if anything goes wrong.”

Kieron Sharp, Director General of FACT, said: “Organised criminals continue to profit from the manufacture and sale of counterfeit DVDs across the UK and this illicit trade threatens the livelihoods of those working in the UK’s creative industries. It also damages future investment in new films and TV programmes.”

To report any criminality contact the charity Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111 (www.crimestoppers-uk.org )

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28th June 2010

COUNTERFEITERS JAILED FOR £1m INTERNATIONAL FAKE DVD OPERATION

A PAIR of counterfeiters who ran a £1 million pound illegal DVD copying operation in Milton Keynes have been jailed for a total of more than three years.

Rosalba Stocec-Bot, a 28-year-old Romanian national, and Achilles Christian Ekedi-Tanenang, aged 36, from Cameroon, had both pleaded guilty to a 10 count indictment of Counterfeiting and Money Laundering, in a previous hearing at Luton Crown Court on June 3rd.

They appeared for sentence at Luton Crown Court on Friday June 25th and Stotec-Bec and Ekendi-Tanenang received 30 months and 15 months respectively.

The extensive investigation into the criminal activities of the defendants was started by Bedford Borough Trading Standards Service, operating on information received by the Federation Against Copyright Theft (FACT).

The investigation uncovered offences in both Bedford and Milton Keynes and was then taken on by Milton Keynes Council’s Trading Standards team, supported by Bedford Borough Trading Standards.

Films being sold included Harry Potter and the Half Blood Prince, The Hangover and Inglourious Basterds and box sets of TV series Friends, Lost and The Sopranos.

In July 2009, five properties across three counties were raided by Milton Keynes, Bedford Borough and Hertfordshire trading standards teams with support from FACT, ELSPA (Entertainment and Leisure Software Publishers Association), BPI (representing the UK recorded music industry) and local police forces.

The raids at addresses in Milton Keynes unearthed DVD manufacturing sites, with racks of DVD burners capable of producing 150 counterfeit discs in a matter of minutes.

Also at the addresses were over 67,000 discs ready for dispatch. A further 56,000 blank discs and associated material were taken from a storage site rented by Ekedi-Tanenang.

The two defendants were the masterminds behind a hugely successful site which sold counterfeit discs over the internet.

Notebooks found at Stocec-Bot’s house, in Peartree Bridge, Milton Keynes, showed the complexity of the operation, with multiple bank accounts, properties being bought and sold and money being transferred overseas to China and Romania.

The information contained in these books gave Stocec-Bot access to over 50 bank accounts many of which not in her name, allowing her to transfer money between accounts and concealing the trail of criminal profits.

A further investigation is being conducted by the Central Bedfordshire Financial Investigation Unit, a joint initiative between Central Bedfordshire Council and Bedford Borough Council, under the Proceeds of Crime Act. A Confiscation order will be sought to return the criminal proceeds, which are estimated at more than a £1m.

Karen Ford, trading standards manager for Milton Keynes Council, said: “This case, dubbed Operation Troy, was immensely complex in that we have jointly prosecuted the defendants with Bedford Borough Council.

“Many consumers have been buying DVDs, such as Harry Potter, Sex and the City and Take That, from this couple not knowing that they were counterfeit and the industry will have lost huge revenues as a result.”

Kieron Sharp, FACT Director General, added, “After a long and very complex investigation started by FACT’s Internet Investigations team and pursued by Milton Keynes Trading Standards and Central Bedfordshire’s Financial Investigation Unit both of the key criminal masterminds behind an international counterfeiting conspiracy have been given prison sentences.

“This is one of the largest and most complex cases FACT has been involved in.

“The sophisticated nature of the operation was designed to try and hide the ultimate beneficiaries and the money trail led to China and other countries, as well as to money laundering in the UK using a property company as a front.

“The court has sent out a strong message that counterfeiting will be punished both with imprisonment and with eventual serious financial penalties.

“I would like to thank Milton Keynes, Central Bedfordshire and all those involved in this case for their efforts.”

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23rd June 2010

THREE ARRESTED AS COUNTERFETING CRIMINAL NETWORK ATTACKED

Police raids have uncovered an organised criminal gang operating an illegal DVD making factory across South East England.

In operations on Monday and Tuesday three men were arrested on suspicion of fraud by false representation and for copyright theft.

On Monday (June 21st) City of London Police detectives, working with the Federation Against Copyright Theft ('FACT'), arrested a 34 year-old man at a printing premises in North London and seized around 900,000 printed inlays and 10,000 DVDs.

Put with a counterfeit DVD, these would add up to a street value of over £2.5m.

At the same time a second team of officers moved in on a residential premises and found 144 burning trays capable of producing over 70,000 counterfeit discs a week.

Yesterday officers arrested a further two men, aged 57 and 54.

The operations across the Capital are part of a joint and ongoing investigation between FACT and the City of London Police into what they believe is a major counterfeiting operation.

Detective Chief Inspector Dave Clark, from the City of London Police’s Economic Crime Directorate, said:

“Illegal DVD production on this huge scale can produce both illicit earnings and the potential revenue that can fund other elements of organised crime, inclusive of drug and human trafficking.

“Counterfeiting can seem like a victimless crime but the reality is it causes huge damage to the film and music industry and has a detrimental effect to the UK economy both on employment and tax revenue.

“This is why we will continue to operate in close partnership with FACT and work to ensure the criminal networks who run these factories are dismantled and the perpetrators brought to justice.”

Kieron Sharp, FACT Director General, said:

"City of London Police and FACT are working closely together to identify those organised criminal gangs which control the illegal trade in counterfeit DVDs.

This involves the whole supply chain, from the 'burning' of the DVDs to the printing of the artwork that goes in the packaging and the subsequent sale on the streets of London and other parts of the UK and then identifying the criminal profits and seizing them."

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3rd June 2010

RAID IN DORSET YIELDS COUNTERFEIT DVDS AFTER INTERNET INVESTIGATION
On Friday 28th May officers from Dorset County Council Trading Standards Service & Dorset Police, acting on intelligence from the Federation Against Copyright Theft (FACT), seized thousands of counterfeit DVDs, dedicated DVD copying machines, computers & packaging and postage materials from a terraced house in Christchurch, Dorset. A 55 year old male who was present at the address concerned will be interviewed further in relation to potential offences of supplying counterfeit film DVDs & music CDs for sale via the internet.

The alleged offences being investigated by trading standards officers are under the Trade Marks Act 1994 and the Copyright Designs and Patents Act 1988.

Ivan Hancock, Divisional Trading Standards Manager with Dorset County Council said, "The Trading Standards Service in Dorset has a strong commitment to tackling illegal copying and the distribution of goods like these by rogue traders. With the ever increasing use of Internet sites to distribute counterfeit goods and illegal copies, residential areas in Dorset can be home to counterfeiters and we will continue to take enforcement action against those flouting the laws that undermine legitimate businesses."

Kieron Sharp, FACT Director General, said, "FACT works closely with trading standards and police across the UK, with an increasing emphasis on targeting those using the internet to distribute and sell counterfeit copies of films and TV programmes. This type of criminal activity might seem attractive to opportunists and career criminals alike but it can be detected and the people involved brought to justice."

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28th April 2010

FIVE YEAR PRISON SENTENCE FOR COUNTERFEITER | HOUSE TO BE SEIZED

A counterfeiter and handler of stolen goods who made over £56,000 while illegally pocketing benefits has been jailed for five years after a two-year-long investigation by West Yorkshire Police, Federation Against Copyright Theft (‘FACT’) and Department for Work & Pensions (‘DWP’).

David Martin, 61, of Parsonage Road, Laisterdyke, Bradford was convicted yesterday (27th April 2010) at Bradford Crown Court.

Martin was counterfeiting DVDs and travelling to the continent to trade in tobacco and pleaded guilty to benefit fraud, handling stolen goods, selling counterfeit DVDs, possessing a computer hard drive for use in fraud and possessing money as criminal property. Six of the ten charges relate to the counterfeiting activity.

When his home was raided by Police on 27th February 2008 several thousand counterefeit DVDs, a stolen laptop and £12,000 in cash was found. Police financial investigators seized a further £44,663 from his three bank accounts.
Judge Jonathan Durham Hall QC called him “a dyed-in-the-wool criminal” and prosecutor Gerald Hendron said Martin dishonestly claimed £23,331 in Income Support and Disability Living Allowance between 2002 and 2008. He did not reveal he had savings and stated he could hardly walk and was unable to make a meal or dress himself. He was paid £3,000 for casual work as a delivery driver in 2007, loading the truck by hand and even replacing doors at the premises after a burglary, Mr Hendron said.

The counterfeit DVDs he produced were sold in pubs whilst he also travelled to Spain, Brussels and Tenerife to bring back tobacco to sell. Martin was also well known to other criminals in the area for “fencing” goods from his back door to sell at car boot sales.

Detective Inspector Ian Bryar said:
“Martin is now paying the price, however, it doesn’t stop there. West Yorkshire Police is in the process of seizing assets from him, including cash and his home address in the Laisterdyke area of Bradford.
“This should act as a warning to other criminals. Martin is a negative role model who was acting as a receiver. This encouraged local youths to commit crime and set a bad example to others in the area.”

Kieron Sharp, FACT Director General, added:
“This is an important conviction, showing the links between counterfeiting and other serious criminal activity that impacts on local communities. It is also one of the strongest ever sentences for production and sale of counterfeit DVDs in the UK and sends a very strong message to criminals that the courts will give out custodial sentences for these crimes as well as seizing criminal assets.
FACT commends West Yorkshire Police for its diligence in bringing this case to trial and will continue to work closely with police forces across the UK to target those involved in counterfeiting its members’ products.”
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24th February 2010

TWO ARRESTED IN GLOUCESTERSHIRE| DRUGS AND COUNTERFEITING EQUIPMENT RECOVERED

Following intelligence supplied by FACT, on 22nd February Gloucestershire Police and Trading Standards Officers accompanied by a FACT Investigator executed a warrant at a house in Leonard Stanley, Gloucestershire. Computer equipment, DVD burners and several hundred counterfeit DVDs were seized along with a quantity of blank discs.

A 35-year-old man and a 29-year-old woman were arrested at the address by Gloucestershire Police on suspicion of possession of a controlled drug with intent to supply after a large amount of cannabis was also found. They were taken to Stroud Police Station and have been bailed to return on 14th April.

PS Kirk Harrison said; "This warrant and subsequent arrests should act as a warning to those flouting copyright laws that FACT, Trading Standards and the Police do work closely together and will act on information received about film piracy. Anyone with any such information can report it anonymously to Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111."

Kieron Sharp, FACT Director General, added;" FACT has established a strong working partnership with Gloucestershire Police and Trading Standards and this is proving successful in tackling audio-visual piracy as well as other serious criminality. As a national organisation we have always been aware of the need for strong local connections and we are able to assist law enforcement across the UK in reducing criminal activity and harm to local communities."

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15th February 2010

FIVE ARRESTS MADE FOLLOWING INVESTIGATION INTO SATELLITE CARD SHARING WEBSITE

On Wednesday 10/02/2010 officers from Hampshire Police and the Metropolitan Police acting on intelligence supplied by FACT executed four simultaneous search warrants at addresses in Middlesex and Hampshire as part of an investigation into a satellite card sharing website. Four men were arrested and large quantities of computers, satellite cards and card readers were seized along with financial documentation and other correspondence. Police were supported by Investigators from FACT.

All four men were interviewed and bailed to return pending forensic examination of the seized evidence.

On Thursday 11/02/1010 officers from Wiltshire Police investigating an eBay seller executed a search warrant at an address in Highworth, Wiltshire. A 35 year old male was arrested and a large quantity of satellite equipment was seized along with a computer and other paraphernalia. Police were supported by Investigators from FACT.

The man was interviewed and bailed to return to Swindon Police Station.

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11th January 2010

COURT TAKES TOUGH ACTION AGAINST KENT COUNTERFEITER

Lawrence Barratt, a 32-year-old from Chatham, Kent, was found guilty at Woolwich Crown Court on 8 December 2009 of bReaching the Copyright Designs and Patents Act 1988 by manufacturing and selling counterfeit DVDs.

Barratt was sentenced to two years suspended imprisonment, plus 175 hours unpaid work requirement and ordered to pay £750 costs. The Judge also made a Section 18 Proceeds of Crime Act Order and a Forfeiture and Destruction Order in relation to seized evidence.

Bexley Trading Standards Officers observed Barratt and another individual on 29 July 2007 selling counterfeit DVDs and CDs at a local boot fair.

The following year, The Federation Against Copyright Theft (FACT), passed information to Bexley Trading Standards about numerous websites that were selling counterfeit DVDs and which were eventually found to be run by Mr Barratt.

Later the same year, two Police Officers stopped a car driven by Mr Barratt. During a routine inspection of the vehicle, the officers found a holdall containing counterfeit DVDs.

Subsequent searches of properties linked to Barratt led to the discovery of 22 DVD burners, 600 DVDs, computers and inlay cards at premises in Firside Grove, Sidcup, Old Farm Avenue, Sidcup and Great Queen Street Dartford.

Mr Barratt appeared at Bexley Magistrates' Court on 26 October 2009, where he pleaded guilty to four counts of making for sale counterfeit inlay sleeves. He was committed to Woolwich Crown Court on 10 November 2009 for sentencing and consideration of an application for a confiscation order.

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