Police have launched a fresh crackdown on illegal 'dodgy' fire sticks, targeting eight new areas across the UK. The operation, conducted in collaboration with the Federation Against Copyright Theft (FACT), aims to disrupt the supply of modified streaming devices used to access paid-for content without authorisation.
The targeted regions include London, the South West, North West, North East, Scotland, Wales, Yorkshire and the Humber, and the West Midlands. Individuals suspected of supplying the devices have been issued cease and desist letters and visited by officers. FACT chairman Kieron Sharp stated that enforcement activities are ongoing and based on new intelligence.
Illegal fire sticks, often 'jailbroken' or 'cracked', allow users to stream services like Sky, Netflix, Disney+ and TNT Sports for around £50 a year. Police warn that such devices are frequently linked to organised crime and can expose users to malware that compromises personal data, including banking details.
The crackdown follows high-profile convictions. In November 2024, Jonathan Edge from Liverpool was jailed for three years and four months for using Amazon fire sticks to stream Premier League football to customers. In a separate case, Stephen Woodward received a three-year sentence for making £1.1 million from illegal streaming sites.
Detective Sergeant Adam Dagnall of Merseyside Police’s Cybercrime Unit urged the public to avoid cheap 'fully loaded' devices, even as Christmas gifts, citing risks of fraud and identity theft. The Premier League emphasised that legitimate subscribers are victims of such operations.
