Cops crack down on illegal DVDs

Daraine Luton, Senior Staff Reporter

POLICE IN downtown Kingston have seized more than $2 million worth of DVDs and arrested 17 people since the start of the year.

The police say they are on a mission to clean up illegal vending in the market district and have vowed to make the area free of extortionists and other criminals.

"It is a zero-tolerance approach that we are adopting because we want downtown to return to being a clean, sanitised place," Superintendent Steve McGregor told The Gleaner yesterday.

The police have so far recovered more than 21,000 illegal DVDs which are sold on the black market for $100 each. They have also recovered DVD burners and McGregor said the police have "put a dent in the illegal trade".

Some 5,802 illegal DVDs were recovered last month and 3,439 have been recovered since the start of August.

Inspector Paul Belvett said yesterday that the court has been slapping people with fines as low as $25,000, which have not been a deterrent.

Persons may be fined up to $100,000 per illegal DVD under the Copyright Act.

Meanwhile, it is not just illegal DVDs that the police are clamping down on. McGregor said his team has been seizing illegal drugs and taking suspected extortionists off the streets of the capital city.

McGregor also warned that starting next week, no vending will be allowed in the lower sections of King and Orange streets.

"We want people to be able to move around freely. We want the place to look safe for people to come and do business," he said.

McGregor admitted, though, that because people have grown accustomed to operating in a particular way, it is not easy for them to change.

"We know it will be difficult but we are committed to the task," McGregor said.

"We want downtown to be a safe place for buyers and vendors. I want people to come here and feel safe, without much harassment from vendors and would-be extortionists. At a moment's call, they can find the police if there is any concern," McGregor said.