Trio arrested for digital TV piracy
June 10, 2016
By Colin Mann
Three men have been arrested for digital TV piracy after raids were carried out in in the UK West Midlands city of Coventry.
Officers from Coventry Police assisted colleagues from Trading Standards and the Federation Against Copyright Theft (FACT) at a commercial premises in Stoke and three residential addresses. A number of items were seized in relation to the sale and distribution of fraudulent digital TV packages.
“Acting on information from the community we are determined to crack down on those who we suspect are committing criminal offences around the distribution of fraudulent digital TV packages,” said PC James Rees, from Coventry’s Local Priorities Team. “This sort of crime affects everyone and costs the broadcasters and members of the public thousands of pounds each year.”
“Pub landlords and the general public need to be aware that set-top boxes allowing access to pirated TV, sports and films are very much illegal,” asserted Kieron Sharp, Director General of FACT. “You may think this type of crime is victimless but the reality is that piracy affects the lives and jobs of hundreds of thousands of people in the TV and film industry.”
In thanking West Midlands Police and Trading Standards for their support in the investigation, Sharp hoped the joint action was a strong warning to anyone involved in this criminality that piracy is taken very seriously.
The men, aged 48, 51 and 38, have been released on police bail while enquiries continue.