Mr. Eric Clee, local agent for the Performing Right Society, says he has started a new campaign against people and firms that avoid paying PRS licence fees.

Anyone playing a radio or stereo system for the public could find themselves being investigated under a new get-tough policy.

But the first target in Mr. Clee's sights is Cablevision, against whom the PRS has filed a writ.

The PRS collects cash on behalf of composers of music as payment for public performance of their work. Most of the big names in rock and R&B are PRS members.

Even a restaurant with background music for diners or a hairdressing salon that plays a radio for customers needs a PRS licence.

Mr. Clee, Cablevision and lawyers in the case, refused to comment on the Cablevision case in detail yesterday.

But Mr. Clee did say: " We're a copyright organisation and obviously it must have something to do with breaching our copyright.'' Anyone who broadcasts music owned by PRS without permission or a licence was breaching the society's copyright, he said.

"This is the start of a new offensive. Since we re-established ourselves in Bermuda we have gone rather quiet, but this is the first revival of what should be happening and of what should have happened.'' He hoped to educate people in the Island on the role of the PRS.

But since a "new thrust'' by the society about three years ago he had been reasonably successfully in getting premises licensed.

Asked if Cablevision had a licence, general manager Mr. Don Greiner said: "I really don't know''.