Swoop nets 15,000 bootleg discs

Blockbuster movies still on the big screen, thousands of fake discs, cigarettes and two cars were seized when police swooped on a car boot sale in Staffordshire in the latest blitz on rogue traders.

Bags crammed full of around 15,000 CDs, games and films were among the haul recovered from the sale at Brocton, on the edge of Cannock Chase. Movies seized included Mamma Mia!, Batman film The Black Knight and Will Smith hit Hancock while the latest games included Beijing 2008.

A bargain hunter also tipped off Customs & Excise officers to the fact around 30 packets of tobacco and approximately 6,000 cigarettes had been hidden under a bush.

Police in high visibility jackets stormed the site, off the A34 Cannock Road between Cannock and Stafford, yesterday morning.

They pounced on stalls spotted by Trading Standards officers sent in first to scour the Brocton car boot sale in plain clothes. Several traders fled as soon as uniformed officers were spotted, leaving behind stalls crammed full of bootleg discs.

Trading Standards investigations officer Nick Mahon said around 15,000 CDs, games and movies were seized from a total of around seven stalls. They will now be sent to a firm to be destroyed and turned into items such as pens and rulers.

"It was a successful day for us in getting the message across that counterfeit goods simply will not be tolerated," Mr Mahon said.

Officers also seized an 03-registration Ford Focus RS car and an L-registration grey Honda Civic.

Yesterday was the third time in four weeks Brocton car boot sale was raided by eight special constables, three PCSOs, seven Trading Standards officers, two from Customs & Excise and a representative from anti-piracy organisation ELSPA.

Sgt Steve Deale, of Staffordshire Police, said: "We will continue to carry out raids such as this as there is clearly still action needed."

l Two 25-year-old men from Handsworth, a 38-year-old man from Sutton Coldfield and a 40-year-old man from Telford were arrested on suspicion of being involved with counterfeit goods following yesterday's operation. All four have been bailed pending further inquiries.