News Archive

Assets Recovery Agency supports creation of Film Piracy Unit

The recent joint initiative by FACT with the Metropolitan Police to create the Film Piracy Unit has been endorsed by Alan McQuillan, Deputy Director of the Assets Recovery Agency (ARA). Alan has commented:

" Film Piracy sometimes tends to have a low profile in the UK, but this illegal activity is a huge business. It is also increasingly being targeted by organised criminals who recognize the potential profits and who operate internationally.

In some areas a lot of good work is going on at local level tackling the distribution channels but given the international dimensions and the links to organised crime, it is essential that the industry and law enforcement also tackle key players at a strategic level.

The Met Police / FACT Film Piracy Unit is a therefore an important innovation. By focusing on developing intelligence in relation to this type of crime across the UK and in the international context, the Unit can help expose the extent of the problem, raise the profile of this activity and help ARA and law enforcement agencies maximise their impact in attacking those involved. "

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16th March 2006

Government link with Creative Industries for Biggest ever UK Crackdown on Counterfeiting and Benefit Fraud

31 arrested after multi-agency crime raids target criminal counterfeiting ring
More than 135 officers and investigators involved in multiple dawn raids
Five major duplicating factories raided
Suspects face multiple fraud charges in private prosecutions
Industry hail multi-agency approach as best way to tackle organised crime

The government and creative industries today announced the completion of the biggest crackdown on counterfeiters and benefit fraudsters ever seen in the UK.

The operation was conducted by the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) in conjunction with British record industry association the BPI, film industry anti-piracy body the Federation Against Copyright Theft (FACT) and computer software body ELSPA.

The operation culminated today with the arrest of 31 suspects as Merseyside and Lancashire Police raided 17 addresses in the Liverpool, Sefton and Skelmersdale areas. The operation has exposed five major duplicating factories operating in these areas.

Today's dawn raids, which involved more than 135 police, trading standards officers and BPI, FACT and ELSPA investigators, follow a six-month investigation into benefit fraud and the supply, distribution and sale of counterfeit CDs, DVDs and computer games in the region.

For the first time, suspects will face multiple criminal fraud charges collectively brought by the BPI, FACT and DWP. If convicted, they face having the proceeds of their crimes confiscated.

It is understood that 70% of the gang's fakes were sold at Liverpool's two worst piracy hotspots, Stanley Dock and Walton Market, with another 30% sold on to smaller units in the Liverpool area. The DWP estimate that an average counterfeit stall in Liverpool was turning over £4,000 a day.

The raids come amid increasing cooperation between Government and the creative industries to fight the growing problems of benefit fraud and intellectual property theft.

Following the arrests, DWP’s Anti-fraud Minster James Plaskitt said; "This operation is proof that by working together we are tackling benefit fraud and counterfeiting. People who commit benefit fraud take money intended for the most vulnerable in our society. The public can help the department’s skilled fraud investigators stamp out benefit fraud by calling the National Benefit Fraud Hotline on 0800 854 440”

BPI Director of Anti-Piracy David Martin said; "The criminal gangs that control the production, manufacturing, distribution and sale of counterfeit goods may have become increasingly organised and large in number, but so have we.

By taking a multi-agency approach to tackle this growing problem, we can not only pool our intelligence and resources, but seek far stiffer penalties for those who profit at the expense of the creative industries and the taxpayer alike."

Raymond Leinster, FACT Director General said; "Working with the DWP, the Police, Trading Standards and HM Revenue & Customs we are seeing increasing recognition of the serious nature of piracy and the criminal organisations behind it.

We are also working with the Assets Recovery Agency to ensure that the monies and assets gained from piracy can be identified and recovered using the Proceeds of Crime Act.”

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15th March 2006

DVD pirate sentenced to 2 years and 3 months imprisonment

Martin Bagshawe was sentenced at Sheffield Crown Court having pleaded guilty to 15 copyright and trade mark charges for manufacturing and selling counterfeit DVDs. He received 12 months imprisonment on eight charges and six months on the remainder, all to run concurrently.

In addition, Bagshaw was sentenced to 12 months imprisonment for offences relating to counterfeit currency and travellers cheques and a further six months for deception and attempted deception in relation to loan applications.

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Wednesday 1 March 2006

Piracy Is A Crime campaign calls time on the pub pirates

According to new research more than one in five pirate DVDs are currently sold in pubs and cafés. The organisation set up to highlight the problem of DVD crime, the Industry Trust for IP Awareness, is now urging consumers and licensees to make it last orders for the pirates.

Click here for the press release from the Piracy Is A Crime website

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