Illegal streaming is increasingly complex. What may appear to be a simple offer of cheap access to television, film or live sport can involve networks of suppliers and resellers operating through the manipulation or control of multiple devices, online accounts, payment channels, and technical platforms.

Investigations often require information from many different sources to establish who is involved, how a service operates and the scale of the harm being caused. Information may come from rights holders, broadcasters, members of the public, online platforms, or other investigations. Crimestoppers also provides an important anonymous route through which people can share information about suspected illegal activity.

Once wrongdoing is disrupted, digital forensics can help recover and interpret evidence held on devices and online systems, while specialist investigators analyse intelligence, map connections and build a clearer picture of the activity.

Bringing these different strands together to protect IP and tackle content theft requires expert industry knowledge, detailed investigative work, and the statutory powers to act. No single organisation holds all these capabilities.

That is why partnership working sits at the heart of FACT’s IP protection work.

Bringing together the right expertise

FACT has built strong, long-standing relationships across the UK’s broadcast and enforcement landscape. Every day, we work closely with television and sports broadcasting partners, police forces, regional organised crime units, Trading Standards teams, Crimestoppers and other specialist organisations.

Each partner brings a different but essential part of the response.

Broadcast partners and rights holders provide detailed knowledge of their content, services and the harm caused by unlawful access. Crimestoppers allows anonymous reporting from the public, encouraging people to contribute valuable information free from reprisal or recrimination, while Trading Standards teams contribute local intelligence, investigative expertise and statutory enforcement powers.

Police forces and specialist organised crime units provide the operational capability and legal authority required to execute warrants, make arrests, seize equipment, and progress criminal investigations.

FACT contributes industry insight, intelligence development, and specialist investigative support. Our teams understand how illegal streaming services are promoted, sold, and supplied, and how apparently separate individuals or services may be connected.

Together, these organisations form a coordinated network committed to protecting rights holders, safeguarding consumers, and strengthening the UK’s response to intellectual property crime.

Turning intelligence into action

Illegal streaming activity is rarely confined to one person, account or location. A reseller offering access to sport, film or television may be linked to suppliers, administrators, or a wider network of sellers. Advertising, customer communication, and payments may all take place across different platforms.

Building an accurate picture requires sustained investigation and carefully assessing many individual pieces of information.

FACT’s investigators carry out much of the detailed work required to identify and understand suspected illegal activity. This can include analysing data, identifying individuals and businesses, examining how services are advertised and sold, mapping networks and consequently preparing comprehensive intelligence packages for enforcement partners.

However, FACT does not hold statutory powers such as the authority to execute search warrants or make arrests. Collaboration therefore provides the foundation that allows intelligence to become lawful enforcement action.

Once that work is complete, our enforcement partners can provide the authority and operational resources needed to act. Depending on the circumstances, the response may include cease-and-desist notices, search warrants, seizures, arrests, civil action, or criminal prosecution.

This shared and successfully recognised model ensures FACT’s industry knowledge and intelligence is combined with the statutory powers and local expertise of its partners to deliver meaningful results.

Coordinated action in Merseyside

The value of this approach can be seen in recent enforcement campaign FACT carried out with Merseyside Police.

On 25 and 26 June, Merseyside Police carried out a two-day operation that resulted in six search warrants and four arrests in Birkenhead and Prenton.

The operation followed close partnership working and ongoing intelligence-sharing between FACT and Merseyside Police.

The individuals involved are suspected of supplying illegal streaming services on a significant scale.

While the investigation remains ongoing, the operation demonstrates how intelligence developed and shared over time can support coordinated enforcement. FACT contributed specialist knowledge of the illegal streaming landscape and the organisations affected, while Merseyside Police provided the powers and resources required to execute warrants, make arrests, and progress the investigation.

It also shows the importance of maintaining long-term relationships between industry investigators and enforcement teams. Those involved in illegal streaming frequently change the accounts, platforms, and methods they use. Regular cooperation helps partners respond to those changes and connect information that might otherwise appear unrelated.

Extending the partnership approach

FACT’s partnership work is not limited to criminal investigations. Collaboration with Trading Standards can support local enforcement and disruption, while intelligence from broadcast partners and the public helps identify emerging threats and direct resources towards those causing the greatest harm.

Different cases require different responses. Some may lead to criminal prosecution, while others result in civil proceedings, account closures, payment disruption, cease-and-desist notices, or further intelligence development.

The outcome may vary, but the principle remains the same: effective action relies on the right organisations sharing information, expertise and resources.

Helping consumers understand the risks

Partnership working also extends beyond investigation and enforcement.

FACT is a proud partner in BeStreamWise, the national consumer awareness campaign that helps viewers understand the risks associated with illegal streaming and make informed choices about how they access content.

Illegal services can expose consumers to fraud, malware, and data theft, as well as connecting them to wider criminal networks. BeStreamWise brings together organisations from across the television, film, and sports sectors to explain these risks and help audiences find safe and legal ways to watch content.

This educational work complements enforcement activity. While investigations focus on identifying and disrupting those who supply illegal services, public awareness can reduce demand and help prevent consumers from putting themselves at risk.

The strength of FACT’s approach lies in bringing together the right intelligence, expertise and enforcement powers. By combining the knowledge of broadcast partners, intelligence from the public via Crimestoppers, FACT’s investigative expertise and the enforcement powers of police and Trading Standards, partners can deliver a unified and effective response that protects content, supports rights holders and helps keep viewers safe.