Police raids in 17 UK areas over Firestick unlawful streaming – full listing
Modified Amazon Fire Sticks used for illegal streaming have been targeted in raids with users facing hefty fines up to £50,000 and even prison time
Police forces and fraud prevention teams have been cracking down on users of doctored Amazon Fire Sticks right across Britain. These tampered devices have been flooding into homes throughout the country, providing illicit access to top-tier television programming without paying subscription costs.
Fire Sticks function as media streaming gadgets that enable users to view videos, play music, and install apps straight onto their televisions. Criminal organisations modify these devices to provide unlawful entry to premium content from major broadcasters such as Sky, BT Sport, Disney+ and Netflix.
Amazon’s most recent Fire Stick model has created substantial obstacles for those trying to stream content illegally. The tech giant unveiled its latest Fire TV Stick several months ago, alongside Amazon’s worldwide campaign against piracy.
A spokesperson for National Trading Standards previously warned: “Accessing pirated content through illegal TV fire sticks undermines the UK’s entertainment industry, putting its talented workforce and supply chains at risk by depriving them of fair earnings and revenue. It also puts consumers at risk by exposing them to illegal software that can put their data and bank details in jeopardy.”
The official added: “An important reminder to all those who buy and sell TV firesticks is that crime does not pay, it breaches copyright law and we encourage people to report suspected cases to the Citizens Advice consumer service.”
It’s estimated that almost five million people across the UK have used illegal sports streaming services, with organisations including the Premier League, Sky and FACT (Federation Against Copyright Theft) collaborating with police to stamp out this practice.
Those caught illegally streaming face fines of up to thousands of pounds, plus potential jail time of up to 12 months, whilst those found selling such equipment face even harsher punishments.
In 2024, Jonathan Edge, then 29, of Anfield Road in Liverpool, was sentenced to 40 months behind bars for supplying Firestick devices that enabled customers to illegally watch Premier League football matches, whilst in 2025, Sunny Kanda, then 40, of Creek View in Halifax, was jailed for two years for “supplying and distributing TV fire sticks and concealing bank transfers linked to criminal activity”.
Police forces, anti-piracy organisations and broadcasters have been collaborating to crush this market through financial sanctions and property raids.
Detective Chief Inspector Emma Warbey, from the City of London Police’s Intellectual Property Crime Unit, warned: “Illegal streaming might look like a quick way to save money, but as this research shows, it’s a false economy that can end up costing people thousands.
“This is a crime that diverts funds away from the entertainment industries, money that supports thousands of technical and support staff. At the same time, it exposes end users to the risks of data theft, cybercrime and fraud. This research is crucial for helping us understand those dangers and why initiatives like BeStreamWise matter.
“They give the public the tools and knowledge to stay safe online and enjoy content legally and securely. We will continue to work collaboratively to ensure that this activity is disrupted and those involved are held to account.”
FACT has issued a stern warning that those supplying and watching content could face penalties up to £50,000 for using modified Fire Sticks to illegally access Sky and Premier League programming. While those viewing illegal streams may face less severe punishments, they could still be hit with fines running into the thousands.
Illegal streaming can be accessed through various devices, but one of the most common methods involves “jailbroken” Fire Sticks, which have been equipped with third-party media server applications. Kodi is the most frequently used software in these cases.
The purchase or distribution of these altered devices is also against the law. These have been dubbed “fully-loaded” devices, a term that refers to how the software has been tweaked to provide access to premium-only channels.
A government spokesperson had previously declared: “These devices are legal when used to watch legitimate, free-to-air content. They become illegal once they are adapted to stream illicit content, for example TV programmes, films and subscription sports channels without paying the appropriate subscriptions.”
The recent crackdown has extended its reach beyond Britain’s shores into Ireland, where authorities served legal warnings to 13 rogue IPTV operators throughout the country, demanding they cease their illegal streaming operations immediately or risk facing serious repercussions, including potential criminal charges.
The 13 official warnings were issued across Dublin, Cork, Donegal, Offaly, Limerick, Louth, Clare, Westmeath and Laois.
Served face-to-face, through the post and electronically, the intervention proved effective, leading to services being terminated, social media accounts being removed, subscriptions being withdrawn and financial settlements being reached.
Kieron Sharp, Chairman of FACT, remarked: “Together with our partners we will continue to identify and take action against Illegal IPTV service providers. They are breaking the law, making criminal profits and putting consumers at real risk of malware, data loss and identity theft.
“We want to protect consumers from these risks and operations such as this ensure the message goes out. It is not scaremongering; these are real criminal actions which consumers and their families are exposed to. These investigations and operations will continue this new year.”
17 UK areas targeted in ‘dodgy’ Fire Stick crackdown
- London
- Kent
- Sussex
- Norfolk
- Northamptonshire
- Lincolnshire
- Derbyshire
- Staffordshire
- East and West Midlands
- Greater Manchester
- Cheshire
- Merseyside
- Northumbria
- North Yorkshire
- South Wales
- North East England
- North West England
Amazon has introduced new protective measures to combat illegal streaming on their devices with the latest version of the Fire Stick. The brand-new Fire TV Stick 4K Select will run on an alternative system known as Vega OS.
This change means that modified Android apps will no longer function on updated models, as the ability to install third-party applications will be removed. Amazon confirmed that only programmes from the Amazon Appstore on Fire TV will be available for download “for enhanced security”, posing a significant obstacle for those making such modifications.
“Piracy is illegal, and we’ve always worked to block it from our Appstore,” an Amazon spokesperson stated. “Through an expanded programme led by the Alliance for Creativity and Entertainment (ACE), a global coalition fighting digital piracy, we’ll now block apps identified as providing access to pirated content, including those downloaded from outside our Appstore.
“This builds on our ongoing efforts to support creators and protect customers, as piracy can also expose users to malware, viruses, and fraud.”
