Illegal DVD Factory Closed Down In Southall

On Saturday 3rd September Southall police and Ealing Council uncovered an illegal DVD production factory and 50,000 counterfeit DVDs after officers executed a warrant at a residential address in Park Avenue, Southall.

According to the British Phonographic Industry (BPI) this is one of the biggest seizures to date of CD and DVD burners in Western Europe.

Police and council officers visited the premises following intelligence and information received from a variety of sources including the community, which indicated that it was involved in the sale and distribution of illegal and counterfeit DVDs.

Three men, two in their twenties and the third in his fifties, were present at the address and were arrested on suspicion of infringement of the Trademarks Act 1994 and the Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988.

At Ealing Magistrates Court on Monday 5th September 2005, all three were charged with offences against the Trademarks Act 1994 and the Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988.

All three have been remanded in custody to appear at Ealing Magistrates on Monday 12th September 2005.

At the premises police and council officers discovered the following items 
- 50,000 counterfeit DVDs (approximately); 
- twenty-four multi-tray DVD computer towers 
- three colour photocopiers; 
- three computer terminals; 
- two DVD labelling machines; 
- a large quantity of blank recordable DVDs; and 
- a large quantity of DVD sleeves. 

Officers estimate that it only takes five minutes to create a counterfeit DVD, which means the factory had the capability of producing more than 50,000 DVDs in a 24-hour period.

Mohammed Tariq, who is on secondment from Birmingham City Council Trading Standards and the British Phonographic Industry (BPI), to Ealing Council Trading Standards states:

“The British film and music industry loses hundreds of millions of pounds every year through DVD and music piracy. The BPI will continue to work hard to ensure that what’s sold on the streets is legal, so that everyone, consumer, trader and the industry, benefits.”

Police Sergeant Shahid Malik, Southall Broadway Safer Neighbourhoods Team states: “This is an excellent example of partnership working. It portrays the results, which can be achieved through information sharing and intelligence led partnership operations.

“We will continue to work in partnership to specially target and ultimately stop local crime networks that are involved in counterfeit activity in Ealing borough.”

Doug Love, Head of Trading Standards Officers Ealing Council added: “The police and Trading Standards have got rid of a major source of the poor quality, fake DVDs that flood high street stalls and leave consumers feeling ripped off. 

"With the police and BPI we've been tackling head on the problem of fake DVDs for many months and had lots of success in limiting the problem. But this raid has been a real breakthrough in our clampdown on illegal goods and our pursuit of those who break the law."

If you have information on the sales of illegal DVDs or CDs in Southall please contact 
Southall Broadway Safer Neighbourhoods Team on 020-8721-2771
Or
Ealing Borough Police (Non – Emergency Number) on 020-8810-1212
Or
Ealing Council Trading Standards Office on 020-8825-6086
Alternatively you could contact Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111
In an Emergency always dial 999.