Police 'homing in' on illegal Amazon Fire TV Stick usage as Midland man arrested

Isabelle Bates

30 June 2024 at 4:22 am·2-min read

An Amazon Fire TV Stick — -Credit: (Image: Martyn Landi/PA Wire)

A man has been arrested by police amid a crackdown on illegal streaming. Dodgy Amazon Fire TV Sticks are sold by criminals to users who then pirate content including sports games, Hollywood movies and more.

The modified sticks are sometimes called 'fully loaded' and a detective has recently said that police are "homing in" on anyone who uses one. A 42-year-old man from Nottingham was arrested for using equipment to distribute TV shows, movies, and sports exclusive to Sky TV packages at no cost via illegal streams.

He was arrested under various acts including the Proceeds of Crime Act, Computer Misuse Act, and the Copyright, Designs and Patents Act. He has since been bailed whilst the investigation continues. Detective Sergeant David Beach, of Nottinghamshire Police's Cyber Crime Unit, said that the use of the dodgy sticks causes an "enormous loss to the entertainment industry."

POLL: Should the DWP be able to monitor benefit claimants' bank accounts?

Get breaking news on BirminghamLive WhatsApp

He added: "This action sends out a strong message that we are homing in on those who knowingly commit or facilitate online copyright infringement. Not only is there an enormous loss to the entertainment industry with this particular operation but it is also unfair that millions of people work hard to afford their subscription-only TV services while others cheat the system.

"Some may think paying for illegal streaming devices and services is a victimless crime but that isn't the case."

Group Director of Anti-Piracy at Sky Matt Hibbert added: "We'd like to thank Nottinghamshire Police’s Cyber Crime Team for taking this strong action against illegal streaming operators. We will continue to support law enforcement to protect our content, tackle illegal streaming, and help keep consumers safe from the risks illegal streaming can pose."

The Independent
Seven people - including four kids - shot by neighbor who once told them to ‘go back to where they came from’
Motive still being investigated, but shooting ‘could’ have racial element, police say
Manchester Evening News
Spanish police could solve Jay Slater mystery by doing two key things says missing persons expert
The apprentice bricklayer had travelled to a Masca village Airbnb, roughly a 40-minute drive away from his tourist residence, alongside two British acquaintances
Manchester Evening News
Jet skis, a Russian SIM card and a lot of 'no comment' answers... The 'top of the tree' drug trafficker known as 'Piggy Wilson' who lived a luxury lifestyle
He lived a lavish life funded by crime - with jet skis, watches and a static caravan - but is now being bars
Evening Standard
Prison guard accused of having sex with inmate at HMP Wandsworth freed on bail
Linda De Sousa Abreu, 30, has been charged with misconduct in public office
The Independent
Prostitute is fatally strangled then sexually assaulted inside Las Vegas casino by man who said he ‘snapped’
Jason Kendall, 35, is being held without bond in connection to the murder of Larissa Garcia at a Las Vegas casino
The Independent
Ted Bundy was a prime suspect in her 51-year-old murder. Now cops know who really did it
A box of DNA evidence collected in the 1970s helped lead investigators to Ann Woodward’s killer
The Telegraph
Jay Slater disappearance not being treated as a crime, say Spanish authorities
The disappearance of Jay Slater is not being treated as a crime at this stage, Spanish authorities have said.
Associated Press
Trump seeks to set aside New York hush money verdict hours after Supreme Court ruling
Donald Trump’s lawyers on Monday asked the New York judge who presided over his hush money trial to set aside his conviction and delay his sentencing, scheduled for next week. The letter to Judge Juan M. Merchan cited the U.S. Supreme Court’s ruling earlier Monday and asked the judge to delay Trump’s sentencing while he weighs the high court’s decision and how it could influence the New York case, according to the letter obtained by The Associated Press. The lawyers argue that the Supreme Court’s decision confirmed a position the defense raised earlier in the case that prosecutors should have been precluded from introducing some evidence they said constituted official presidential acts, according to the letter.
Manchester Evening News
British climber who flew to Tenerife to help find missing Jay Slater accuses Spanish police of 'PR stunt'
The climber and social media personality has railed against Spanish authorities, continuing the search today despite Tenerife police calling off their official search on the ground
The Telegraph
Paedophile head teacher jailed for 17 years for abuse of four girls
A former high school head teacher who abused school girls for years and was “determined” to satisfy his “perverted desires” has been jailed for 17 years.
Colchester Evening Gazette
Man who filmed himself sexually abusing woman has been jailed for 12 years
Bradley Smith from Chelmsford has been jailed for 12 years after filming himself sexually abusing a woman.
The Telegraph
‘Best kept village’ smells so bad it has had to pull out of the competition
The six-times winner of England’s best kept village has pulled out of the competition because the smell of raw sewage coming from the river has become unbearable.
Associated Press
Young Thug's trial on hold as defense tries to get judge removed from case
The judge overseeing the racketeering and gang prosecution against Young Thug and others on Monday put the long-running trial on hold until another judge rules on requests by several defendants that he step aside from the case. Lawyers for the rapper and several other defendants had filed motions seeking the recusal of Fulton County Superior Court Chief Judge Ural Glanville after he held a meeting with prosecutors and a prosecution witness at which defendants and defense attorneys were not present.
Evening Standard
Jay Slater's father 'disappointed' at number of volunteers searching in Tenerife for missing teenager
Father hits out at trolls criticising his family as low numbers of expert volunteers join search effort after plea for mass turnout
Warrington Guardian
Police hunt for wanted trio who failed to attend class A drugs supply sentencing
Police hunt for wanted trio who failed to attend class A drugs supply sentencing
Echo
Two injured and arrests made after fight at south Essex pub during England match
According to witnesses, police shut the pub following the fight on Sunday at roughly 7.15pm.
The Independent
North Carolina mom charged with murdering two of her adopted children
Avantae Deven faces multiple charges relating to the disappearance and death of Blake and London Deven
CNN
Bodycam shows moment cops strip gun from fellow police officer
Bodycam footage has been released of a North Carolina police officer who was charged with embezzlement for allegedly stealing hundreds of dollars from a man he arrested.
Manchester Evening News
Coronation Street exit fears after 29 years as icon suffers fresh battle with 'mystery' detail
Beloved ITV soap star Roy Cropper will be fighting for his life and receives a mystery visitor in the hospital
The Telegraph
Bus company ‘refused’ to move asylum seekers to Bibby Stockholm during protest
A bus company refused to move asylum seekers to the Bibby Stockholm barge during a protest over fears about the negative publicity it could cause, a court has heard.

Latest stories