TWO Bradford cinema staff are among 17 from across the UK who have been rewarded for their work in disrupting and preventing film piracy.

The vigilant staff members were rewarded at a special ceremony held at Twentieth Century Fox in London as part of a dedicated and extensive ‘Fight Film Theft’ programme operated nationwide by the Federation Against Copyright Theft (FACT) and funded by the Film Distributors’ Association (FDA).

The staff received a cash prize along with a certificate for spotting and tackling individuals who illegally record films in cinemas. Their efforts helped protect blockbusters including Deadpool, The Jungle Book and Angry Birds as well as several popular Bollywood films.

Kieron Sharp, FACT Director General, added: “Illegal recording is still the source of more than 90 per cent of all pirated films and so our Fight Film Theft programme with the FDA, is essential to protecting new releases and preventing criminal activity."

Mark Batey, chief executive, Film Distributors’ Association, said: “With a bumper summer line-up full of exciting new releases to experience at the cinema, raising awareness of digital film theft, and empowering cinema staff, is a key priority to ensure the UK remains the most safe and secure environment in which to release movies.

“On behalf of UK distributors we would like to thank all of the awardees for their continued vigilance and commitment which has helped to safeguard so many great films.”