Three men were arrested on June 25: a 47-year-old from Birkenhead and two men, aged 41 and 56, from Prenton. A further three search warrants were conducted on the next day. A man aged 49 from Prenton was arrested after two further search warrants were executed in Birkenhead and Prenton as part of the ongoing investigation.
The target was the suspected supply of illegal streaming services to thousands of customers. The suspected services are believed to have been supplied to thousands of customers, damaging legitimate broadcasters, the wider creative industries and the jobs they support.
“These arrests demonstrate the value of FACT’s intelligence-led investigations and our close partnership with Merseyside Police. This sends a clear message that those involved in supplying illegal streaming services can be identified and held to account,” said Nick Sumner, Investigations Manager at FACT, the Federation Against Copyright Theft, an anti-piracy organization.
The individuals were identified through ongoing intelligence-sharing and partnership work between FACT and Merseyside Police.
The operation follows an earlier FACT referral that had led to the arrest of a man in Birkenhead in October 2025 on suspicion of similar offences. That investigation remains ongoing.
Why it matters
Those selling illegal subscriptions should not assume that operating online will protect them from detection, said Detective Constable Andrew Gibson of the Cyber Dependent Crime Unit.
Alongside the damage caused to broadcasters and content creators, illegal streaming services can expose consumers to scams, malicious software and the theft of personal or financial information.
FACT works with police forces and rights holders across the UK to identify, disrupt and deter those involved in illegal streaming through intelligence-led investigations, enforcement operations, cease-and-desist notices and criminal prosecutions.
Further reading
Four arrested in Merseyside crackdown on illegal streaming services. Press release. July 9, 2026. Federation Against Copyright Theft (FACT)
