Homes across the UK face being blocked from Sky TV streams after police launched a major crackdown on watching content for free. Police are shutting down a number of providers who were broadcasting content, including exclusive shows, movies and sports coverage from Sky, without permission.
It is thought that around 500,000 customers will be affected by the new block which means many will now be forced to pay to watch premium TV, reported The Mirror. Along with closing down the operations, which were spread across the UK, four people were also arrested and equipment including laptops and phones were also seized.
In addition to the arrests, more than 200 ‘cease and desist’ notices were delivered to individuals suspected of running illegal streaming services around the country. The notices instruct those running online platforms to immediately cease all streaming activity.
Speaking about the raids, Detective Chief Inspector Gary Robinson, from the Police Intellectual Property Crime Unit (PIPCU) at City of London Police, said: "Organised criminal groups often view the distribution of illegal streaming services as a low-risk, high-reward crime which can be used to fund other serious forms of criminal activity. At the same time, it can expose end users to the risks of data theft, fraud and malware.
"We hope that this period of action sends a clear message - PIPCU will continue to work with partners across law enforcement and the industry to take action against those who provide illegal streaming services and protect consumers against the risks associated with using them."
Matt Hibbert, director of anti-piracy at Sky, added: "This coordinated effort by police and partners which saw action spanning the UK has made a significant impact against individuals involved in serious organised crime. More and more effective action is being taken against the criminals behind big piracy operations and we thank PIPCU and all the police forces involved. We will continue to support these efforts to shut down these pirate networks and help protect consumers."
This latest crackdown comes after police recently visited 1,000 homes as part of another massive crackdown on illegal television streaming. Law enforcement identified customers from a huge database as part of an ongoing criminal investigation.
They have since been warned they could also face prosecution if they don't stop watching content illegally. The new purge is against people who try to watch Premier League games, football from all over Europe and other sports and movies on the cheap.
