All the areas police are visiting in 'dodgy' firestick crackdown, including in North East

Police across the UK have been targeting homes in a major crackdown on illegal streaming devices, commonly known as "dodgy" firesticks, which allow users to access pirated sports streams and TV content. The Federation Against Copyright Theft (FACT) spearheaded the two-week enforcement campaign alongside local constabularies, aiming to take down piracy operations and focusing on over 30 suppliers offering unauthorised access to subscription-based services.

During the operation, individuals were approached directly at their homes and received cease-and-desist notices by post, warning them of potential criminal charges if they continued their illicit activities. In Newport, a 42 year old man was arrested for his suspected role in illegal IPTV operations, including selling unlawful firesticks, with South Wales Police and FACT confiscating various electronic devices.

The nationwide clampdown affected multiple areas, signalling a serious commitment to combating copyright infringement.

This action follows the recent sentencing of Jonathan Edge, a 29 year old from Liverpool, who was imprisoned for three years and four months after admitting to offences under the Fraud Act. Despite receiving a cease-and-desist letter from FACT, he persisted in peddling and using these illegal devices, leading to a private prosecution by the Premier League that resulted in his jail term.

While owning a hacked or 'jailbroken' streaming device like a firestick isn't technically against the law, using one to stream paywalled content for free is illegal. Kieron Sharp, CEO of FACT, has issued a stern warning to anyone using such a device, stating they risk "facing serious consequences", reports the Mirror.

He said: "Our cease-and-desist measures are not just warnings-they are the first step toward holding offenders accountable. Many who ignored these notices in the past are now facing arrest and criminal charges. We strongly advise anyone involved in these activities to stop immediately."

"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. We will continue working with police to track down and shut down these illegal operations."

"The police across the UK have been unstinting in their efforts to tackle this criminality and we are grateful for their assistance. 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. The safest, smartest and only choice is to stick to legitimate providers for your entertainment."

The clampdown spanned regions across the UK, including:

• LondonKent
• SussexNorfolk
• Northamptonshire
• Lincolnshire
• StaffordshireEast and West Midlands
• Greater Manchester
• Cheshire
• Merseyside
• Northumbria
• North Yorkshire