Fake goods seized

The battle against counterfeit goods in Suffolk has been given a major boost following a series of high profile operations across Lowestoft and the wider county.

Raids during the past two days unearthed a large quantity of fake DVDs and equipment for copying discs, while county trading standards also issued a warning to traders selling counterfeit goods after a woman was jailed for six months.

In the Lowestoft raids, police and officers from the Federation Against Copyright Theft (FACT) executed a warrant at a home in San Francisco Walk on Monday and seized more than 100 DVDs plus equipment for the copying of discs.

A 23-year-old man was arrested and has been bailed, pending further inquiries, until July 2.

In a second warrant carried out yesterday at an address in nearby Rounces Lane, Carlton Colville, further computer equipment was seized.

Earlier this month, thousands of counterfeit DVDs were seized during a raid on an address in Larch Road, Lowestoft, and a 47-year-old man was arrested and bailed to return to Lowestoft police station on June 13.

This month's crack down follows notable successes during last autumn when £40,000-worth of illegally copied DVDs, CDs and computer games were seized from a house in Denmark Road, Lowestoft, while more fake goods were found during another operation in Carlton Colville.

Kieron Sharp, director general of FACT, said: “The public should be aware that by purchasing these items they are putting money into the hands of criminals and are also affecting local jobs and businesses.”

t Suffolk police are asking anyone with information about the sale or production of counterfeit DVDs to call police on 01986 835100 or Crimestoppers on 0800 555111.

t Anyone with information regarding counterfeit items can also call Consumer Direct on 08454 04 05 06.

t For more information about the work of FACT, visit www.fact-uk.org.uk