Illegal firestick crackdown targeting users in West Midlands

The West Midlands and Staffordshire form part of a new police crackdown on illegal streaming devices. Commonly known as "dodgy" firesticks, the devices allow access to content that has not been paid for.

While it's not technically illegal to own a hacked or 'jailbroken' streaming device like a firestick, using one to stream paywalled content for free is against the law. Previously, in Newport, a 42 year old man was nabbed for his suspected role in an illicit IPTV scheme, which included selling these unlawful firesticks.

South Wales Police and FACT confiscated several gadgets during the arrest. The enforcement action extended across various UK regions, following the recent jailing of Jonathan Edge, a 29 year old from Liverpool. Despite receiving a cease-and-desist notice from FACT, he persisted in peddling the pirated devices.

Read more: Two new routes from Birmingham Airport

His activities led to a three-year and four-month prison sentence after a private prosecution by the Premier League for offences under the Fraud Act, reports the Mirror.

Kieron Sharp, CEO of FACT, has issued a stern warning to anyone using such a device, stating they risk "facing serious consequences".

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:

• London
• Kent
• Sussex
• Norfolk
• Northamptonshire
• Lincolnshire
• Staffordshire
• East and West Midlands
• Greater Manchester
• Cheshire
• Merseyside
• Northumbria
• North Yorkshire.