MORE than 150 police officers - some armed - swooped on a York travellers' site in a massive dawn raid today.

A police helicopter kept watch overhead as officers from four separate forces - North Yorkshire, South Yorkshire, West Yorkshire and Humberside - converged on Osbaldwick travellers' site.

A convoy of more than 35 police vehicles, including dog units and prison vans, charged into the compound at 7.30am.

Police were joined by a huge range of agencies including Customs & Excise, Trading Standards and RSPCA officers as they searched for any kind of criminal activity.

The Evening Press had exclusive access to the raid, codenamed Operation Chord, for which plans were finalised at a top-level briefing at a York army barracks yesterday.

ARMED police officers today smashed their way into a York traveller compound on the hunt for weapons, drugs and stolen goods.

More than 150 police from four Yorkshire forces joined the secret dawn operation at the run-down Osbaldwick caravan site on the edge of York.

They were joined by customs and excise, environment agency, RSPCA, BT, Department of Work and Pensions, Trading Standards and electricity board officials during a "clean sweep" move to root out any illegal activity.

Marksmen and dog handlers from the newly-formed Tadcaster Firearms Support Unit led the raid because organisers feared there might be weapons at the site.

A senior officer told the Evening Press that police were going in "heavy-handed" because of concerns that the move could spark a violent confrontation or a lengthy siege.

At least 35 police vehicles and a police helicopter were involved in the raid, which appeared to be passing off peacefully with two arrests as we went to press.

During the operation site residents were evacuated and every caravan was raised and searched. We can reveal today that the raids followed months of covert information gathering about the identities and activities of resident traveller families.

Police chiefs, who named the move Operation Chord, believe the isolated site at the end of Outgang Lane may be being used as a base for criminal activity.

A source said: "The last time police moved on a traveller's site to try and evict someone there was nearly a riot, so today they were not taking any chances."

Members of North Yorkshire, West Yorkshire and South Yorkshire and Humberside Police met yesterday afternoon at Imphal Barracks, Fulford, adjacent to York Police headquarters, for a final briefing.

Officers including specialist search teams, forensic experts and evidence gatherers travelled from across Yorkshire for the co-ordinated raid.

Up to 20 caravans were at Osbaldwick traveller's site today as well as dozens of vehicles. The single-track road that leads to the site is covered in dumped litter and burned furniture.

The Osbaldwick site is one of three official traveller's sites owned by City of York Council. The other sites are at James Street and Clifton.

In 1999, £250,000 was spent refurbishing the site, but residents complained that fly-tipping had turned the Outgang Lane bridleway into an "environmental disaster".

Updated: 09:33 Thursday, September 16, 2004