1,000 Midlands homes facing police visits in crackdown on illegal streaming

A major ongoing criminal investigation into illegal streaming services has identified 1,000 Midlands households that will soon receive a knock on the door with a warning of prosecution.

Police have warned households using unlawfully adapted technology such as 'Fire sticks', modified boxes or illegal subscriptions to receive access to premium content could face serious consequences.

Officers have joined forces with anti-piracy investigators from FACT (The Federation Against Copyright Theft) in 'Operation Raider', the Mirror reports.

Homeowners could be served notices, be ordered to stop immediately and warned of serious consequence.

The crackdown, led by the police and FACT, comes with the support of organisations like the Premier League and broadcasters such as Sky, BT Sport and Amazon.

FACT was set up to stop piracy in the TV and film industry.

West Mercia Police Detective Inspector Matt McNelis said: “West Mercia Police worked in partnership with FACT and other agencies during Operation Raider to prevent criminal activity and raise public awareness around illegal streaming services.

"We are able to deploy cutting-edge digital tactics to identify and detect people who break the law before carrying out enforcement activity in concert with our partners.

"Often illegal streaming is used to fund Serious Organised Crime and West Mercia Cybercrime Unit is committed to interdicting this source of criminal revenue and reducing the harm organised crime groups can do to our communities.”