Hundreds of households sent letter from police in latest Fire Stick crackdown

Households have received warning letters from the police about using ‘dodgy’ fire-sticks to stream their favourite shows at little to no cost

Police are ramping up efforts amid a nationwide crackdown on illegal Fire Sticks after hundreds of households were sent warning letters about using them to stream their favourite shows.

It comes after a Liverpool man was jailed in 2024 for selling the jailbroken Fire Sticks in return for cash-in-hand payments. The 30-year-old was sentenced to three years and four months behind bars, with his lawyer claiming at the time that his client was ‘helping the poor like Robin Hood.’

Police were able to get their hands on details of customers who bought one of Jonathan Edge’s illegal devices, which let people access usually paywalled shows and live sports without a subscription – but it is illegal.

You could end up in prison for catching up on the latest episode of Stranger Things by using one of these Fire Sticks, as being caught violating section 11 of the Fraud Act comes with some hefty consequences.

The UK’s top anti-piracy organisation, Federation Against Copyright Theft (FACT) has warned time and time again that people are putting themselves at risk by using these gadgets.

The organisation’s chairman, Kieron Sharp, said: “This campaign makes it clear that end users of illegal streaming services are breaking the law.

“The risks are real, from potential criminal liability to exposure to scams, viruses, and harmful content. We urge people to protect themselves and their families by only using legitimate providers.”

Detective Sergeant Adam Dagnall of Merseyside Police’s Cybercrime Unit said: “Merseyside Police takes illegal streaming seriously because it often helps fund organised crime and puts users at real risk.

“Not only is it a criminal offence, but the unauthorised streaming services frequently contain malware that can compromise personal devices and lead to the loss of information such as banking details, or be used to commit identity fraud.”

Alethea Fowler of the Tarian Regional Organised Crime Unit added: “Users of illegal streaming services may see it as a harmless crime, but there is no such thing.

“Not only do the end users of these services face risks such as loss of personal data and fire risk to their property, but they are also funding serious and organised crime.

“Criminals rarely stop at one income stream, and by purchasing illicit goods you are enabling further forms of criminality, often involving exploitation and harm.

“We would encourage anyone who is considering using illegal streaming services to consider the risks to themselves, their families, and their wider communities.”

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