A CRACKDOWN on pubs illegally showing live Premier League games on foreign satellite channels is being re-launched by police.

As Blackburn Rovers prepare to kick-off its home league campaign against Arsenal on Sunday police in the borough said they would raid any pubs suspected of showing games.

Officers are also writing to licensees warning them not to buy or use the equipment needed to broadcast the games which are normally shown on a Saturday afternoon.

Landlords breaking the law face a fine of up to £5,000 and having their licence stripped.

The clampdown follows a similar operation last year when officers searched pubs after Blackburn Rovers chairman John Williams said he feared the practice was hitting home attendances at Ewood Park.

Town centre Sergeant Rachel Baines said: "At the start of the new football season, the police in conjunction with partner agencies, will be investigating any potential breaches of this legislation.

"If you are found in possession of foreign satellite equipment, which is being used to broadcast Premier League matches, it is likely that equipment will be seized and that you may be prosecuted for breaching the Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988.

"A letter will be sent to all licensees in the forthcoming weeks warning them not to buy or use this equipment."

The Premier League has signed several deals for broadcasters such as Sky and Setanta Sports to screen live games in Britain.

However, the Premier League also signs deals with channels for the rights to other British games to be shown abroad.

There have been a number of legal challenges to the police clampdown across the country from pubs showing foreign channels but many now accept it is illegal.

Town centre Sergeant for Accrington, Ian Corbett said: "We have no plans to do this at the minute but that does not say we will not do any in the future."

Geoff Sutcliffe, treasurer of the Blackburn Licensed Victuallers Association and landlord of the Rising Sun, Brownhill said pubs showing games screened by foreign stations was still a problem.

He added: "We wrote to our members warning them it was illegal.

"I think it has been more or less accepted it is illegal to screen football shown on TV satellite stations from other countries in this country."

Anyone with information or queries about screening satellite TV games should contact Sgt Baines on 01254 353576.