The number of individuals in the UK who illegally stream sports or other channels has significantly increased, placing additional pressure on police forces as they attempt to prosecute those who violate the law, according to the leader of Britain’s intellectual property crime unit. Emma Warbey, Detective Chief Inspector and head of the Police Intellectual Property Crime Unit (PIPCU) at the City of London Police, acknowledged that most individuals using illegal streaming devices face little risk of arrest as enforcement efforts are concentrated on organized crime groups and resellers at the top of these operations.
Warbey noted the growing prevalence of internet TV media boxes, often referred to as “sticks,” which are used for illegal streaming—a trend that broadcasters warn diminishes the value of sports rights. These devices can be preloaded with software to access illegal sports streams and channels globally. She emphasized that illegal streaming is not without consequences, highlighting connections to fraud and the funding of organized crime.
Efforts to combat these crimes focus on higher-level operators, as Warbey explained, acknowledging the difficulty in stopping end-users from engaging in illegal streaming. Law enforcement targets significant organized crime networks, following financial trails to dismantle such groups.
Both broadcasters and law enforcement have expressed concern over the normalization of piracy among sports fans across the UK and parts of Europe, which threatens the value of exclusive broadcasting rights for football and other sports. There is a mistaken belief among some users that illegal streaming is a victimless crime, despite its ties to serious criminal activities such as money laundering and fraud.
Warbey indicated that police often begin with “cease and desist” letters to minor sellers of illegal TV services, informing them of the law they are breaking and warning of potential arrest if they continue. Such measures can be especially impactful on young individuals who may be involved in selling illegal streaming services from their homes.
The cost of living crisis has contributed further to the rise in illegal streaming, with more people resorting to cheaper yet illicit means of watching sports. Warbey warned customers that they often unwittingly provide personal details to fraudsters and criminal organizations, increasing the risk of personal fraud.
Last month, broadcaster Sky criticized Amazon for not doing more to mitigate the use of its Fire Sticks in streaming pirated content. Amazon claims to prohibit the sale of illicit streaming devices through its platform and has incorporated on-device warnings on its Fire TV service about the risks of using apps from unknown sources.
The City of London Police is responsible for addressing piracy as part of its lead role on fraud, though Warbey’s team receives funding from the Intellectual Property Office. Companies like Sky are also capable of pursuing private prosecutions and collaborating with police forces nationwide. Sky recently obtained a High Court order to compel internet service providers to block piracy services that illegally stream its content.
Warbey explained that criminal investigations and court cases can be lengthy, necessitating the allocation of resources to large crime syndicates. Her team participated in an international police operation that dismantled one of the world’s largest illegal streaming services, used by approximately 22 million people worldwide. Her team is engaged in an ongoing case expected to go before the courts in October.
The scope of criminal operations extends beyond pirated sports to include unauthorized access to TV shows and channels that are not available or require payment in the UK. These criminal networks also exploit international opportunities by selling access to British-only streams like iPlayer in European markets.
