Licensees arrested in foreign satellite football crackdown

A dozen pubs have been raided and three men arrested in a police crackdown on foreign satellite broadcasts.

Several private homes across Hull and East Yorkshire were also targeted in an operation involving more than 70 officers.

Police in Oldham also recovered broadcasting equipment responsible for the alleged illegal feed of Sky into 12 pubs in and around Hull.

Two of the arrests were for money laundering and breach of contract.

A third man was arrested for drugs offences and obstructing an officer. Two of the men arrested are licensees. All three have been released on bail.

Hundreds of bottles of wine and a small amount of tobacco were also seized by Revenue and Customs officers who were also on the raid.

The action followed complaints by other licensees in the area that a number of pubs were broadcasting Premier League games illegally.

Broadcasting equipment has also been seized from the pubs in question and private prosecutions will be conducted by Media Protection Services (MPS) on behalf of the Premier League.

Ray Hoskin, MPS' managing director, said: "This is the biggest crackdown on this type of criminal activity and is in response to concerns of honest publicans whose trade is suffering through the minority who flout what is now clear law.

"We are receiving overwhelming success in the courts and this prompt and expert reaction by Humberside Police will be welcome news for the licensed trade, particularly in the Hull area."

Detective Inspector Michael Reed of Humberside Police, said: "This joint operation was conducted to provide resassurance to the law abiding licensees in the city who have lost significant trade as a result of illegal criminal activity."