Major police crackdown blocks millions from watching Sky TV for free and leads to string of arrests

Officers executed warrants across Manchester, making four arrests and seizing 10 servers and associated equipment. Each item was valued at approximately £75,000, with total seizures exceeding £750,000.

Four individuals arrested have since been released under investigation. The shuttering of the large-scale illegal IPTV streaming operation took place on the 100th anniversary of television.

The joint operation between PIPCU officers and Sky was launched after the latter reported suspicious activity linked to a large-scale illicit streaming service. Investigators identified the individuals believed to be operating an illegal IPTV service that supplied millions of viewers across the UK.

Even charging less than the most affordable Sky TV package, one suspect is alleged to have generated more than £3 million in revenue from the streaming operation.

Detective Constable Jordan Day, of the Police Intellectual Property Crime Unit (PIPCU) at the City of London Police, said: "Criminals continue to provide illegal IPTV streaming services to consumers. These services are not harmless alternatives; they are examples of organised criminal operations generating millions in illegal profits.

"It is more important than ever that our team works to protect the integrity of broadcasting and the millions of people who rely on it. This operation demonstrates the impact we can have when we work closely with partners like Sky to dismantle these illegal networks, sending a clear message to those who profit from piracy that they will be held to account."

Anyone who accesses illegal TV streaming services is potentially liable to prosecution for criminal offences, including under Section 11 of the Fraud Act 2006. This law permits an unlimited fine and prison sentence of up to five years for those who are found guilty of “obtaining services dishonestly”.

Matt Hibbert, Group Director of Anti-Piracy at Sky said: "We thank the Police Intellectual Property Crime Unit for taking decisive action against a major pirate operation.

"We take the protection of our content extremely seriously given the significant investment we make and will continue to work with the police and industry partners to disrupt the criminal networks behind piracy.

"People who watch illegal streams should know that it isn’t a victimless crime: recent research by BeStreamWise advise that nearly 65% of illegal streamers have faced security scares like malware through these unlawful methods.

"This action will help keep consumers, their devices and their personal data safe."

The operation in Manchester is the latest in a string of tough action taken against the rise of illicit streaming in the UK. The Federation Against Copyright Theft (FACT) sent text messages and emails to over 1,000 people in the UK, warning them to "immediately cease using illegal TV streaming services or face the risk of prosecution."

FACT wants its latest campaign to remind Britons that they're not anonymous online and that watching unauthorised content carries serious risks.

Amazon has also issued a software update that blocks Fire TV viewers from downloading and installing illicit apps that would never be approved in the official App Store. Known as sideloading, this is the technique used to equip these low-cost gadgets with the ability to watch copyright-protected content at a reduced cost — or even free of charge. Anyone who attempts to sideload on Fire TV will now be met with an error message.

Last year, in Stockton-on-Tees, a 52-year-old man was arrested under suspicion of being involved in an entirely separate illegal streaming operation first uncovered by the North East Regional Organised Crime Unit.

This flurry of activity from police was followed by confirmation from Merseyside Police Cyber Crime Unit that a 41-year-old man from Liverpool was handed a two-year suspended sentence after pleading guilty to charges of promoting and selling modified Fire TV Sticks that offered access to paid-for films, TV shows, and live Premier League matches.

Back in March, FACT worked in conjunction with the Police Intellectual Property Crime Unit and the Premier League to target 11 individuals across the UK who were selling illegal access to premium TV content, including live Premier League matches via modified or so-called "fully loaded" Smart TV devices or Fire TV Sticks.