Sky steps up monitoring of pubs

Sky is stepping up its pursuit of licensees that screen satellite programmes without a commercial licence by doubling the number of staff that investigate venues.

From September 1, the number of "policing operatives" will double to nearly 300, the broadcaster said.

It also announced the launch of two new "licences", which publicans must display in a street facing window to prove they have the correct commercial agreement.

Licensees who take the main Sky subscription must display one licence and an extra licence must be on show for those that have taken the Football+ package.

A spokeswoman for Sky said: "We take the illegal broadcast of our programming very seriously and use all the tools at our disposal to pursue and prosecute those who impact on the livelihoods of our legitimate subscribers with this kind of criminal behaviour. We are constantly developing new ways of strengthening our policing effort and protecting our commercial customers."

Stephen Gerrard, Prosecuting Manager, FACT, said: "This new licence will make it even easier for us to identify licensees who are fraudulently showing Sky programmes in their premises and we will bring prosecutions against them. The courts have been clear in their message that this kind of illegal behaviour will not be tolerated, and we will continue to see publicans lose their licences and pay substantial fines if they persist in breaking the law in this way."

So far this year four licensees have had their personal licences suspended for showing Sky without a commercial contract, a spokeswoman said.