PIRATE copies of films have been destroyed during an amnesty to clamp down on illegal DVDs in the North-East.

A mobile shredding unit was in the Mall, Middlesbrough, and Northumberland Street, Newcastle, encouraging people to hand over their pirate discs without the risk of facing prosecution.

Trading standards say the sale of pirate copies is known to support local crime as DVD pirates are often involved in other forms of criminality, including, drugs, pornography, benefit fraud and people smuggling and they often defend their territory through the use of offensive weapons.

According to figures released by market research company, NOP, 35 per cent of people in the region have knowingly bought fake copies of films and that a quarter of consumers didn't even know it was a crime.

Lavinia Carey, director general of the British Video Association, said: "This campaign aims to make consumers aware that DVD piracy is not a victimless crime and your money may well be going directly into the pockets of criminals.

"That's why we asked people to bring their pirate DVDs along to be publicly destroyed, and there was even the chance to get some real ones in return. There was no question of anyone getting into trouble by returning pirate DVDs."