Thousands of households across the UK may lose access to premium television channels after police shut down a large illicit data centre used for illegal streaming. The operation, led by the City of London Police's Police Intellectual Property Crime Unit (PIPCU), targeted a platform that supplied unauthorised access to sports broadcasts, movies, and subscription channels.
Detective Sergeant Ben Hobbs of PIPCU said the scale of the operation highlights the growing prevalence of illegal streaming in the UK. “The size of this operation shows how widespread illegal streaming has become in the UK and our commitment to bringing the criminals behind it to justice,” he said. He urged consumers to use only official sources to avoid risks.
The raid took place in Farnborough, where PIPCU worked alongside Sky to dismantle the infrastructure. The facility housed high-capacity servers used to distribute illegal streams. Matt Hibbert, Sky's Group Director of Anti-Piracy, welcomed the action, stating that illegal streaming is linked to organised crime and exposes consumers to significant risks.
Authorities have warned that users of illegal streaming services may face malware, data theft, fraud, and legal consequences, including warning letters or visits from enforcement agencies.
