People warned amid UK-wide crackdown on 'dodgy' Firesticks

People who have bought cracked Firesticks to illegally stream TV shows, sports and movies have been told they are exposing their homes to criminals.

It comes as suppliers of the illicit devices were targeted in a UK-wide police and Federation Against Copyright Theft (FACT) operation.

The crackdown, which lasted two weeks, disrupted and dismantled piracy operations across the country by targeting 30 suppliers selling unauthorised access to premium content, including film, television, and live sports to people in Scotland and across the UK.

Individuals were visited in-person and issued cease-and-desist warnings by post, instructing them to stop illegal activities immediately or face potential criminal prosecution.

The clampdown spanned locations across the UK, including London, Cheshire, Kent, Sussex, Norfolk, Northamptonshire, Lincolnshire, Derbyshire, Staffordshire, the East and West Midlands, Greater Manchester, Merseyside, Northumbria, and North Yorkshire.

South Wales Police arrested a 42-year-old man from Newport who was suspected of involvement in illegal IPTV operations, including the sale of illicit Firesticks.

Several digital devices, including Firesticks, were seized for forensic examination. The suspect remains under investigation and could face criminal charges.

FACT also issued a number of takedown requests to social media platforms and online marketplaces, further disrupting illegal IPTV activity.

Last month, a private prosecution undertaken by the Premier League resulted in Jonathan Edge, a 29-year-old from Liverpool, receiving a three-year and four-month prison sentence for selling and using illicit Firesticks.

Despite a prior cease-and-desist warning from FACT he continued to act illegally. His sentence also includes a concurrent two-year and three-month term for personally accessing and viewing the pirated content he distributed.

The joint operation has resulted in a number of illegal services being taken down and their advertising removed from platforms such as Facebook, Instagram, TikTok and X.

FACT warned that illegal streaming exposes your home to criminals, granting them access to data stored on your network, including banking details and sensitive personal information. It can also introduce malware, which can further compromise your security.

Kieron Sharp, the chief executive officer of FACT, 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.”