A 38-year-old man has been arrested on suspicion of selling an illegal streaming service following a targeted operation by the Police Intellectual Property Crime Unit (PIPCU) at City of London Police. The arrest took place during the early hours of 15 October 2024 at a residential address in Wolverhampton.
The man was detained on suspicion of copyright and money laundering offences after allegedly distributing illegal streaming packages in bulk, which were then sold to the public by others. As part of the investigation, further search warrants were executed at four business addresses in Wolverhampton and Coventry. Officers seized a server used to host the illegal streaming service, effectively shutting it down.
Impact and Risks of Illegal Streaming
According to BeStreamWise, approximately one in three individuals who engage in illegal streaming in the UK, or know someone who does, have been victims of fraud or identity theft. The streaming packages in this operation provided unauthorized access to Sky channels, exposing users to significant risks.
Detective Constable Daryl Fryatt of PIPCU said:
“Illegal streaming is a huge issue for the entertainment and creative industries. While it may seem like a low-risk, high-reward crime, the proceeds are often used to fund serious criminal activities. Furthermore, end users are at risk of data theft, fraud, and malware.
He added, “The message of this operation is clear: if you sell illegal streaming services, you will be caught and held accountable for your actions.”
Economic and Employment Impact
The Intellectual Property Office estimates that counterfeiting and piracy result in an annual loss of £9 billion to the UK economy, costing around 80,000 jobs each year.
Matt Hibbert, Group Director of Anti-Piracy at Sky, commented:
“When people illegally stream, they provide their personal information to criminals, and the risks are very real. We are grateful to PIPCU for leading this action and will continue our efforts to protect our content and help keep consumers safe.”
Ongoing Investigation
West Midlands Police supported PIPCU officers during the search operations. The suspect has since been released under investigation as enquiries continue.
