Police officers from Greater Manchester Police working together with FACT (Federation Against Copyright Theft) and Stockport Trading Standards have discovered a large pirate DVD factory in Stockport, Manchester.

The intelligence-led operation took police officers to three residential addresses in the Stockport area. The three addresses were searched in the early hours of this morning.

Three men, aged between 26 – 42 years, have been arrested after 79 burners were found at one address. The burners together with other equipment and several thousand DVDs have been confiscated. Several DVDs were found at the other two addresses, including several copies of Quantum of Solace and other recent Hollywood titles.

The counterfeit DVDs, which are sold for approximately £3 each, are known to generate substantial criminal profits for those involved in their production.

Councillor Stuart Bodsworth, Executive Member for the Environment, said: “This has yet again been another very successful partnership led operation with the Council working closely with the Police and the Federation Against Copyright Theft in a bid to protect Stockport residents from these rogue traders. I would like congratulate everyone involved in this operation but particularly the Council’s Trading Standards team on their professionalism and dedication in bringing this whole operation together.”

Kieron Sharp, FACT Director General, added: “This was an intelligence led operation in partnership with Greater Manchester Police and Stockport Trading Standards and has successfully targeted a criminal enterprise manufacturing and supplying knock off DVDs for sale across Manchester.

FACT welcomes the opportunity to assist the Police and Trading Standards in tackling this persistent and lucrative criminal trade.”

To report the manufacture or sale of counterfeit DVDs call Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111 or contact your local Safer Neighbourhoods team.