TEHRAN, July 11 (AFP) - Police in Iran's historic city of Isfahan have banned women who are improperly veiled from public places and performances of live music, police said Sunday.

"Badly covered women are banned from entering public places," said a statement by the Isfahan police, carried by the official IRNA news agency.

Police have also banned the playing of live music in reception halls and at public events, although recorded vocals-free music authorized by the ministry of culture and Islamic guidance, is allowed.

Neither can unauthorized music be played in the cars, IRNA said.Last month, the Fars news agency said police were poised to launch a new crackdown on vice, targeting people disrespecting the Islamic dress code and shops selling skimpy clothing and other illegal goods such as banned CDs.

Police crackdowns on unIslamic dressers are common at the beginning of the scorching summer months, when many women defy the rules by sporting shorter, tighter and brighter coats and three-quarter length trousers.

All women living in Iran are forced to veil themselves from head to toe or risk arrest and prosecution.Western music is also censored and those selling foreign music need special permits, although millions of banned CDs and cassettes have been sold on the black market throughout the country in recent years.