Illegal streaming crackdown in Manchester sees £750k server seizure and four arrests
Police say the service provided access to millions of illegal TV streams
Four people have been arrested in Manchester after police shut down a major illegal TV streaming operation said to have affected millions of viewers across the UK.
Officers from the Police Intellectual Property Crime Unit (PIPCU), working with Sky, executed warrants last week, seizing 10 servers and associated equipment valued at around £750,000.
The enforcement came after Sky raised concerns about suspicious activity linked to an illicit IPTV service. Investigators allege one suspect made more than £3 million from running the operation.
Servers taken offline
PIPCU officers shut down the illegal servers on site, causing widespread disruption to unauthorised streams across the country, according to Sky.
The unit, based at City of London Police, said the action was part of efforts to protect the television industry during its 100th anniversary year, highlighting the impact of piracy on legitimate services and viewers.
Detective Constable Jordan Day from PIPCU said:
“Criminals continue to provide illegal IPTV streaming services to consumers. These services are not harmless alternatives; they are examples of organised criminal operations generating millions in illegal profits.
It is more important than ever that our team works to protect the integrity of broadcasting and the millions of people who rely on it. This operation demonstrates the impact we can have when we work closely with partners like Sky to dismantle these illegal networks, sending a clear message to those who profit from piracy that they will be held to account.”
Consumers warned of risks
Sky’s Group Director of Anti-Piracy, Matt Hibbert, thanked police and warned viewers about the dangers of illegal streams.
“We take the protection of our content extremely seriously given the significant investment we make and will continue to work with the police and industry partners to disrupt the criminal networks behind piracy,” Hibbert said.
“People who watch illegal streams should know that it isn’t a victimless crime: recent research by BeStreamWise advise that nearly 65% of illegal streamers have faced security scares like malware through these unlawful methods. This action will help keep consumers, their devices and their personal data safe.”