Premier League to increase targeted visits over foreign satellite use
ID Inquiries replaces Media Protection Services (MPS) who previously conducted investigations on behalf of the Premier league, after a competitive tender process.
The Glasgow-based company, will conduct a wider and more targeted programme of pub visits and investigations than in any previous season. It is thought that this will be around 8,000 targeted visits - double that previously conducted.
The Premier League stopped using MPS to prosecute licensees after a High Court ruling last year. Lord Justice Stanley Burton ruled on 16 August 2012 in an appeal case that MPS acted unlawfully. The Premier League are now conducting the prosecutions, although they continued to use MPS for the investigation role.
Last week, the Premier League secured a judgement in the High Court requiring the six main Internet Service Providers to block access to Swedish based First Row Sports.
A Premier League spokesman said: “We look forward to working with ID Inquiries as we significantly up our enforcement activity in this area with more planned investigations than ever before.
“This newly enhanced investigations programme follows recent successes in the High Court, including injunctions against the use of foreign satellite systems, and unauthorised streaming websites, being used in commercial premises to broadcast Premier League football.
“We remind all publicans that Sky Sports and BT Sport are the only authorised broadcasters of live Premier League matches in the UK and that legal action will be taken against those who use unauthorised satellite systems to show Premier League matches in commercial premises.”
