3 sites axed in war on dodgy downloads.

Byline: STUART McFARLANE [email protected]

A CRACKDOWN against hosts of illegal "torrent" sites which let users download movies, music and games illegally has been launched.

Police and the Federation against Copyright Theft (Fact) have taken down three sites in Edinburgh, Kilmarnock and Falkirk since the turn of the year.

These are the first sites to be apprehended in Scotland and are part of a bid to change public behaviour and awareness of the issue.

Andy Law, who headed up the police operation, said: "Work is ongoing to remove several more sites we have identified, in what is a growing problem.

"Hosts often believe they leave no footprint, but we can trace sites to an address" Kieron Sharp, of Fact, said: "Websites offering illegal films, music, games and books threaten our creative industries and the 1.8million Britons in them."

CAPTION(S):

illegal "torrent" sites