ONE of five people held in a crackdown on the sale and distribution of illegal TV set top boxes was arrested at his Bolton home.

Warrants were executed at six properties across the North West and the 60-year-old man was taken for interview and released on bail pending further enquiries.

The suspects are alleged to have made in the region of £250,000 from selling via social media, online forums and dedicated websites boxes which were illegally pre-loaded with unlicensed add-ons and apps that allow viewers to stream content such as paid-for channels, live sport and films.

The day of action on Wednesday was instigated by intellectual property protection organisation FACT – the Federation Against Copyright Theft – on behalf of Premier League, Sky, BT Sport and Virgin Media.

Kieron Sharp, director general of FACT, said: “The day of action should send out a clear warning to anyone involved in the sale and distribution of illegal set-top boxes that law enforcement and industry take this matter very seriously.

“Set-top boxes loaded with apps and add-ons allowing access to copyright infringing material are very much illegal and anyone involved in selling these boxes should not be surprised to receive a knock on the door.”

Agencies involved in the day of action included Greater Manchester Police, City of London Police’s Intellectual Property Crime Unit and the Intellectual Property Office.

Besides the man in Bolton, officers arrested a 33-year-old man in Tameside, a 36-year-old man in Bootle, a 46-year-old man in Manchester and a 36-year-old woman in Cheadle and all were bailed by police pending further enquiries. The one warrant that did not result in an arrest was executed at a home in Rhyl in north Wales.

The previous day police helped FACT issue three Cease and Desist Notices to other offenders and two more investigations have also been passed on to Her Majesty’s Revenue and Customs for further action.

Detective Inspector Neal Colburn, of GMP’s Asset Attack Team, said: “The action should send a clear message to anyone who thinks it is acceptable to be part of this illegal industry which is robbing honest people of jobs and insulting law-abiding consumers who pay for their channels with their hard-earned money.”