Police have conducted a series of raids in the UK in a crackdown on illegal online piracy.

Four were arrested on charges of theft as part of the action, according to the Police Intellectual Property Crime Unit.

The raids took place across the UK, in Edinburgh, Glasgow, London, and Stoke throughout the month of February.

Individuals were arrested for streaming premium content, including Sky channels, illegally. Computer equipment, laptops, and phones were also seized.

Officers believe that the illegal streaming services disrupted by the operation had more than half a million customers.

The raids were a collaborative effort between PIPCU City of London Police, Police Scotland, and Sky.

“Organised criminal groups often view the distribution of illegal streaming services as a low-risk, high-reward crime which can be used to fund other serious forms of criminal activity. At the same time, it can expose end users to the risks of data theft, fraud and malware,” Detective Chief Inspector Gary Robinson from PIPCU at City of London Police said.

“We hope that this period of action sends a clear message; PIPCU will continue to work with partners across law enforcement and the industry to take action against those who provide illegal streaming services and protect consumers against the risks associated with using them.”

A further 200 ‘cease and desist’ notices were delivered to individuals suspected of running illegal streaming services around the country, instructing them to immediately cease all streaming activity.

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Detective Inspector Andy Maclean, from Police Scotland’s Cyber Investigation Department, said: “Anyone tempted to purchase one of these IPTV services should be aware that their money is going towards a fraudulent scheme, and they might well find themselves having a visit from police or other authorities.

“Money from such activities are often used to fund other crime, so people need to be aware of that. This is, without doubt, a form of organised crime.”

One person was charged in relation to intellectual propery theft, and three people have since been released under investigation.

Matt Hibbert, Director of Anti-Piracy at Sky, said: “This coordinated effort by police and partners which saw action spanning the UK has made a significant impact against individuals involved in serious organised crime.

“More and more effective action is being taken against the criminals behind big piracy operations and we thank PIPCU and all the police forces involved. We will continue to support these efforts to shut down these pirate networks and help protect consumers.”