The crime-fighting charity Crimestoppers has renewed its partnership with Film Distributors’ Association (FDA), the trade body for theatrical film distributors who release movies for UK cinema audiences. Film piracy is one of the many areas of crime that Crimestoppers receives anonymous information about in the UK. FDA originally became a partner of the charity in 2009 and since then initiatives to tackle copyright theft and related crimes that affect the British film industry have been carried out through this partnership with a focus on crime deterrent as well as detection.
Anti-piracy films have been created through this partnership, with the National Film and Television School. These films have been shown across the UK including one that invites the audience to imagine a near-future world in which unchecked digital piracy has devastated local cinemas. They invite you not to turn a blind eye to film theft but rather to alert Crimestoppers anonymously. Future films are being planned to relay a similar message but in a fresh, compelling way.
Crimestoppers Director of Business Development, Rodger Holden, said: “We take our role in reducing and detecting crime very seriously and we are delighted to continue our work with Film Distributors’ Association and tackle crimes that affect the film industry. As a charity we are happy to play our part in making the UK safer and continue to ensure that information given to us by the public remains completely anonymous and ensure no one will ever know who contacted us.
And Mark Batey, FDA Chief Executive, said:“Although cinemagoing in the UK is buoyant and in great shape, fuelled by the release of a dozen films each week, we can’t afford a moment’s complacency. Our on-going partnership with Crimestoppers gives us access to a well-known, trusted way for members of the public to report instances of film theft in all its forms, freely and anonymously. It’s an invaluable win-win, benefiting work programmes with accurate local intelligence.”
