A SENIOR record industry executive travelled to the region yesterday to thank the team of detectives who smashed one of the North-East's biggest piracy rings.

Pat Ferguson, deputy director of anti-piracy at record industry organisation British Phonographic Industries (BPI), paid tribute to the team that broke up a £1m black market racket selling counterfeit DVDs and CDs.

The officers - Detective Constable Stephen Chinner and Detective Inspector David Wolfe, from Durham Constabulary, and Detective Constable David Kernaghan and Detective Sergeant Keith Jewitt, from Northumbria Police - were presented with engraved CDs during a ceremony at Durham Police Headquarters, in Durham City yesterday.

The four officers played a key role in the two-year undercover investigation into the gang, led by Paul Canning and Mark Bailey, who made up to £11,000 a week selling counterfeit videos at car boot sales across County Durham.

In April, 32-year-old Canning, of Houghton-le-Spring, and 26-year-old Bailey, from Gateshead, were each jailed for three-and-a-half years at Teesside Crown Court after admitting their part in the scam.

Their piracy is thought to have cost the recording industry about £8m.

Another eight members of the gang received lesser sentences.

A proceeds of crime hearing is expected later this year in which an attempt will be made to recover the £1.2m members of the gang are thought to have made.

Mr Ferguson described the work of the officers in breaking up the gang as outstanding, and said: "I am here because these officers have performed superbly in bringing the Canning and Bailey gang to justice.

"These officers played a major role in apprehending and ensuring convictions against the ten-strong counterfeiting gang.

"The professionalism, dedication and work ethic displayed by these officers is a credit not only to themselves, but to their chief constables and their forces."

The recording industry estimates that one in four of all counterfeit CDs are sold at car boot sales and markets, and estimated that piracy costs the industry £10bn a year.

They also say there is a direct link between piracy and drug trafficking and money laundering carried out by organised crime gangs.