Main Street in Christiana, Manchester, which was once taken over by street vendors. - George Henry

The Christiana police inManchester have issued a warning to producers and vendors of bootleg DVDs not to enter the areas under their supervision.

The warning comes from sub-officer in charge of the Christiana Police Station, Inspector Gasford Cole.

Inspector Cole said over the last four weeks he and his officers have embarked on a serious drive aimed at ridding the Manchester town of the illegal production and sales of bootleg DVDs and, to this end, several arrests have been made and persons brought before the courts.

"We have been on a drive for the past month or so, where a number of persons have been arrested and taken to court for breaches of the Copyright Act, including the selling of burned DVDs. Some of the cases have been disposed of in court and some are still pending," explained Cole.

DVD seizures

Although unable to give a definite figure as to the number of arrests made to date, Inspector Cole told THE STAR that over a week ago, an individual was taken in by members of the Island Special Constabulary Force (ISCF) for possessing more than 700 copies of bootleg DVDs. He said a man, who was arrested on Saturday, had 63 copies of the illegal discs.

In the meantime, Inspector Cole has warned all vendors in Christiana to stay off the streets and utilise the spaces provided in the market for vending.