Police are visiting homes across the UK in a bid to crack down on those supplying “dodgy” Firesticks that allow sports fans to illegally stream matches on their televisions.
The devices look like their Amazon counterparts, but are hacked or unlocked to give free access to paid content.
In recent months there has been a clampdown on illegal devices: Father-of-two Jonathan Edge, 29, was jailed for three years for selling them and three men were arrested in July.
The latest measure by the Federation Against Copyright Theft (FACT) involves two weeks of law enforcement operations, in conjunction with local police forces, and aims to combat more than 30 distributors of Firesticks, the Mirror information.
The campaign focuses on dismantling hacking operations and has seen agents visit people in person, as well as issuing cease and desist warnings by mail, suggesting there would be criminal prosecution if they did not stop their activities immediately.
And now the full list of areas targeted by police has been revealed and covers most of the country:
Full list of areas where police are targeting ‘dubious’ Firesticks has emerged (File Photo)
There has been a crackdown on illegal streaming in recent months led by FACT
People living in London, Kent, Sussex, Norfolk, Northamptonshire, Lincolnshire, Staffordshire, East and West Midlands, Greater Manchester, Cheshire, Merseyside, Northumbria and North Yorkshire are likely to be affected.
In fact, reports suggest that a 42-year-old man has already been arrested in Newport as part of the campaign after he was suspected of being involved in the illegal sale of Firesticks.
South Wales Police and FACT are believed to have seized a number of electronic devices associated with the suspect.
The crackdown comes after Edge was jailed for three years and four months. as confirmed by the Premier Leaguefor selling the Firesticks. This also included a separate sentence to access and view the content you provided.
An investigation found that Edge uploaded the content to the devices and was paid cash at his home.
He was warned on several occasions to stop, but continued to supply illegal material.
Julian Nutter, defending, argued that Edge was acting as a sort of ‘Robin Hood’ figure by giving access to games to people who would struggle to afford a Sky subscription.
‘Whether or not he made a significant profit is a question. “It has to be pointed out on their behalf that the people who would buy their products would not be people who were likely to have the money to buy a Sky subscription,” Mr Nutter said.
‘They have limited income. The people you would be dealing with in the Merseyside area would hardly be the same as the rich people in London who would receive money from the city.
Jonathan Edge, 29 (pictured), was jailed for more than three years after pleading guilty to selling ‘dodgy’ Firesticks.
The devices allow users to watch sporting events for free through a ‘jailbreak’ device
‘I was providing a service to people who probably couldn’t afford it otherwise. There’s a Robin Hood element to all of that.
In the wake of the recent police operation, FACT chief executive Kieron Sharp said: ‘Our cease and desist measures are not just warnings – they are the first step in holding offenders to account. Many of those who ignored these warnings in the past now face arrest and criminal charges. We strongly advise anyone involved in these activities to stop doing so immediately.
‘If you supply or use illicit streaming devices or illegal IPTV subscriptions, take this as a clear warning: you are breaking the law and risk facing serious consequences. We will continue to work with police to track and put an end to these illegal operations.
‘Police across the UK have left no stone unturned in tackling this crime and we are grateful for their help. For those who use illegal streaming services, the message is that they are not only committing a crime; you are putting yourself at risk.
‘These services often expose users to malware, scams and data theft, with no recourse when something goes wrong. The safest, smartest and only option is to use legitimate providers for your entertainment.’