How illegal Amazon Fire Sticks are detected as 15 UK areas named in new police crackdown | OneFootball

Police have recently been cracking down on illegal streaming

Multiple areas in the United Kingdom were recently named in the latest crackdown on illegal sports streaming.

In recent times, more and more people have turned to methods such as illegal streaming to try and workaround the ever-increasing costs of paying to watch football via outlets such as Sky Sports and TNT Sports.

One of the most commonly used methods to do this has been via Amazon Firesticks, devices which plug into the back of televisions and allow users to stream services such as YouTube and Netflix.

The firestick is jailbroken, which allows users to install software on their device, in turn providing access to sporting contests the world over.

Given that Sky Sports broadcast over 1,000 matches per season from the EFL, Carabao Cup and Vertu Trophy, using these devices has become a popular method for fans in the Football League to watch their teams for a lower cost.

There has been an increased effort from police to try and crackdown on people distributing these methods to illegally stream in recent times, as well as those using them too.

Police forces and the anti-piracy body Federation Against Copyright Theft (FACT) have been seizing devices and making arrests, with their most recent crackdown aimed at tackling more than 30 suppliers, which reportedly targeted the 15 areas of London Kent, Sussex, Norfolk, Northamptonshire, Lincolnshire, Staffordshire, East and West Midlands, Greater Manchester, Cheshire, Merseyside, Northumbria and North Yorkshire.

How illegal firesticks are detected amid police crackdown

With the police cracking down on certain locations to find users and distributers of illegal firesticks, it begs the question, how do they know how to detect such usage?

The Federation Against Copyright Theft (FACT) has explained in the past that it constantly monitors the digital landscape to try and tackle illegal streaming activity.

FACT states that it utilises a range of methods to identify those who are engaging in such behaviour.

According to Your Local Guardian, the agency relies upon people reporting that they have seen an illegal stream, which in turn directly leads the authorities to the source.

FACT have revealed that they have a partnership with Crimestoppers which makes it easy to report illegal streaming, and has led directly to a significant increase in the number of reports of improper firestick usage.

These reports are followed up with actions such as 'Cease and Desist' letters and nationwide 'Knock and Talks', before progressing to further action or even prosecution if matters can’t be resolved.

Severe consequences can follow for persistent use of illegal firestick streaming

The authorities are serious about cracking down on the use of firesticks to illegally stream sport and have made their stance clear in recent times.

A 42-year-old man was arrested in Newport on suspicion of his involvement in selling the devices, whilst another man from Liverpool received a three-year jail sentence for selling and using the firesticks, highlighting the consequences that can come with involvement in illegal streaming.

Amazon have also tried preventing usage of their devices to illegally stream as well, as its new Fire TV Stick 4K Select has a key change that makes it harder to jailbreak