Four arrested in Manchester as PIPCU dismantles £750k illegal IPTV network, stopping millions of unlawful streams
As the television industry celebrates its 100th anniversary, the City of London Police’s Police Intellectual Property Crime Unit (PIPCU), working alongside industry partners, has taken firm action against a large-scale illegal IPTV streaming operation.
Last week, officers carried out warrants in Manchester, leading to four arrests. During the operation, ten servers and related equipment were seized, each valued at around £75,000, bringing the total seizure value to more than £750,000. All four suspects have since been released under investigation.
The case began after Sky flagged suspicious activity linked to a significant illicit streaming service. Investigators traced the operation to individuals believed to be supplying illegal IPTV services to millions of users across the UK. One of the suspects is thought to have earned over £3 million from the scheme.
Officers shut down the servers during the raid, which Sky confirmed caused widespread disruption to illegal streaming services nationwide. This highlights the real-world impact that coordinated enforcement efforts can have in protecting both consumers and the creative sector.
The operation underscores the importance of close collaboration between industry and law enforcement in tackling organised financial crime. The scale and complexity of the infrastructure uncovered also emphasise the need for continued vigilance as the television industry enters its second century of innovation.
Detective Constable Jordan Day from PIPCU at City of London Police said:
“Criminals continue to provide illegal IPTV streaming services to consumers. These services are not harmless alternatives; they are examples of organised criminal operations generating millions in illegal profits.
"It is more important than ever that our team works to protect the integrity of broadcasting and the millions of people who rely on it. This operation demonstrates the impact we can have when we work closely with partners like Sky to dismantle these illegal networks, sending a clear message to those who profit from piracy that they will be held to account.”
Matt Hibbert, Group Director of Anti-Piracy at Sky, added:
“We thank the Police Intellectual Property Crime Unit for taking decisive action against a major pirate operation. We take the protection of our content extremely seriously given the significant investment we make and will continue to work with the police and industry partners to disrupt the criminal networks behind piracy.
“People who watch illegal streams should know that it isn’t a victimless crime: recent research by BeStreamWise advise that nearly 65% of illegal streamers have faced security scares like malware through these unlawful methods. This action will help keep consumers, their devices and their personal data safe.”