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Police break up 'government-funded' piracy ring
This is not what state benefit is for surely...

By Will Sturgeon

Published: Wednesday 30 October 2002

UK police have conducted a series of raids across Britain, breaking up a software piracy ring and seizing £500,000 worth of equipment.

Code-named Operation Andrew, the sting was the end product of cooperation between the Trading Standards Authority and the computer games industry association ELSPA (Entertainment and Leisure Software Publishers Association).

Police seized 8,500 CDs as well as hardware worth £500,000, according to a report on the BBC.

Among those arrested are a 20-year-old male, whose parents were unaware that he was running a piracy operation from his bedroom.

Also, another man arrested in the co-ordinated raids had financed the operation with his state benefit, intended for the care of his disabled daughter.

The man had built an extension to house the pirating equipment, using a grant which was awarded for him to build an extra room for his daughter.

Despite claiming benefit, the BBC reports the man has financed four holidays this year with his ill-gotten gains.