Illegally altered devices
Date of request: 4 March 2026
Reference: 14624412
Request
Please could you tell me the number of people arrested for using or distributing illegally altered devices, such as Amazon Firesticks, to access premium channels over the last three years. I believe this may fall under Section 11 of the Fraud Act 2006.
Please provide figures by calendar year (2025, 2024, 2023) and 2026 to date if held. If five years of data are held, please provide that. If possible, please break down by those arrested for using and distributing the devices.
If possible – and held in a searchable format – please provide me with the number of arrest records containing the words “Amazon Firestick”, “firestick” or “fire stick”.
Response
Avon and Somerset police have searched our crime recording system between 01 January 2023 and 28 February 2026 for offences recorded as fraud with the search terms you requested. One record was identified. However, upon review there is no mention in the file that the ‘firestick’ was illegally altered, and the offender was not arrested for ‘using or distributing illegally altered devices’
Please note: Report Fraud is the UK’s (England, Wales and Northern Ireland) national reporting centre for fraud and cybercrime. Members of the public, the police, businesses and charities can report to Report Fraud online 24 hours a day or on the telephone.
The National Fraud and Cyber Crime Reporting Centre (NFRC) is comprised of Report Fraud and the National Fraud Intelligence Bureau (NFIB). The service is hosted by the City of London Police (national policing lead for Economic Crime). The NFIB analyses reports of fraud and cybercrime made to Report Fraud, identifying lines of enquiry and where there are lines of enquiry available, allocating cases to police forces for investigation.
Whilst Avon and Somerset police may hold information on these types of crimes, you may wish to contact Report Fraud for any information they may hold.
More information is available here from Federation Against Copyright Theft.