UK first award for fake CD drive

An estimated that £165m was lost to CD piracy in the UK in 2005.

A Trading Standards professional has become the first in the UK to receive a music industry accolade following her work to combat counterfeiting.

Alison Cairns, from Falkirk Council, has reported 31 cases in the past four years that have all led to convictions including about 20 jail terms.

The consumer protection manager has now been awarded the British Phonographic Industry's Anti-Piracy commendation.

She also led Scotland's largest anti- piracy operation in Bellshill in 2003.

Ms Cairns said she hoped the award could be used to raise the profile of the work carried out by Trading Standards staff.

'Lack of resources'

"The award reflects the efforts of the entire Trading Standards team and how committed they are in ensuring consumers are not exploited by criminals who sell counterfeit CDs," she said.

David Martin, head of anti-piracy at the BPI, the UK record companies' trade association, said: "Because of the chronic lack of resources, we increasingly rely on Trading Standards officers' goodwill to tackle the growing problem of counterfeiting and piracy.

"The work done by Falkirk Council, and Alison in particular, has been nothing short of outstanding."

The BPI has estimated that £165m was lost to CD piracy in the UK during 2005.