Full list of areas in the UK targeted in ‘dodgy’ Fire TV stick crackdown
Homes across the UK have been raided over the use of illegal streaming using and illicit Amazon Fire TV sticks.
The raids, led by a number of police forces and the anti piracy body Federation Against Copyright Theft (FACT), started in November after police were alerted that people had been streaming sports and television illegally.
FACT said the raids happened in London, Cheshire, Kent, Sussex, Norfolk, Northamptonshire, Lincolnshire, Derbyshire, Staffordshire, the East and West Midlands, Greater Manchester, Merseyside, Northumbria, and North Yorkshire.
The crackdown aims to target more than 30 suppliers selling them.
As part of the operation, a 42-year-old man was arrested in Newport on suspicion of his involvement selling illicit firesticks. Others were visited in person and handed cease-and-desist letters.
FACT said the raid is the latest clampdown on illegal streaming operations, with courts also imposing tougher sentences on those who break the law.
It said last month Jonathan Edge, 29, from Liverpool, received a three-year jail term last month for selling and using illegal firesticks.
The organisation sent him cease and desist letters but he carried on, leading to the Premier League taking him to court.
Chief executive of FACT, Kieron Sharp, said: ‘Our cease-and-desist measures are not just warnings—they are the first step toward holding offenders accountable.
‘If you’re supplying or using illicit streaming devices or illegal IPTV subscriptions, take this as a clear warning: you are breaking the law and risk facing serious consequences.
‘To those using illegal streaming services, the message is that you’re not just committing a crime; you are putting yourself at risk.
‘These services often expose users to malware, scams, and data theft, with no recourse when things go wrong.’
What is the law around ‘dodgy’ Fire TV sticks?
Using or distributing ‘jailbroken’ firesticks is against the law.
Jailbroken firesticks are ones that have been hacked to allow access to additional apps.
It is against the law using a jailbroken one to do something illegal with.
For example, if somebody had a ‘jailbroken’ PlayStation and used it to play pirated video games, that would be illegal.
This means owners of these firesticks can download illegal streaming apps and watch content without paying the subscription services.
People are at risk of a large fine if they do not pay for a TV licence and watch live sports on a ‘dodgy’ firestick.
The maximum punishment is a £1,000 fine – which could reach £2,000 if you live in Guernsey.
Owning a normal firestick like those provided by Amazon is not illegal and is not part of this crackdown.
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