Police are gearing up to visit 1,000 homes this week as part of a new crackdown on illegal TV streaming.
The force has used a large database to identify targets in a major ongoing criminal investigation. Officers will knock on doors this week, with many homeowners potentially facing prosecution.
It comes following a series of raids against a UK-based illegal streaming service offering entertainment and sports through modified boxes. The new crackdown will focus on people attempting to watch Premier League games, football from across Europe, as well as other sports and movies at a cheap price, the Mirror reports.
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Police have teamed up with anti-piracy investigators from FACT in "Operation Raider". Officers knocking on doors may serve notices and order customers to stop illegally streaming immediately and be warned of serious consequences.
Detective Inspector Matt McNellis said: “We are able to deploy cutting-edge digital tactics to identify and detect people who break the law before carrying out enforcement activity in concert with our partners.
“Often, illegal streaming is used to fund Serious Organised Crime and West Mercia Cybercrime Unit is committed to interdicting this source of criminal revenue and reducing the harm organised crime groups can do to our communities.”
Detective Chief Inspector Gary Robinson, of the Police Intellectual Property Crime Unit, said: “Accessing films, TV series and live sports events from unauthorised sources is illegal, can expose consumers to risks such as data theft and malware, and can help fund organised criminal groups.”
FACT Chief Executive, Kieron Sharp, added: “We would like to thank the Government Agency Intelligence Network (GAIN), the Police Intellectual Property Crime Unit (PIPCU), West Mercia Police, and other police forces across the country, for their support to help ensure that the public are made aware of the dangers of using illegal streaming services and, more importantly, that they understand that there is the risk of criminal prosecution.”
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