The UK's Federation Against Copyright Theft has announced that seven people have been arrested in Hackney, East London by police working with FACT, Hackney Council and the Immigration Service.

The raid was conducted at a Tesco carpark, where five men and two women, all of Chinese origin, were arrested. More than 1000 pirate DVDs were seized.

Kieron Sharp, director general of the Federation Against Copyright Theft said: 'Pirate DVD selling in Hackney has been a persistent problem for some time and we are delighted to be working with Police, Tesco and Hackney Council to stamp out this criminal activity. The public should be aware that those selling these DVDs are not innocent pawns but are part of organised criminal gangs making millions of pounds a week and that in buying a pirate DVD they are contributing to crime in their local area as well as affecting local jobs in shops and cinemas.'

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