The London 2012 Olympics are going to be a "hostile environment" for ticket touts, a top police officer has warned.
The 80,000-seater Olympic stadium in east London where athletics will be staged
Assistant Commissioner Chris Allison said police would look to disrupt the organised gangs trying to target the Games.
Mr Allison, who is in charge of security at the Games, said stoppng the touts would be a top priority.
He warned: "This is going to be a hostile environment for touts. If they are out there trying to sell tickets, we'll be on to them."
Police have already arrested 37 people in the last six months in 10 separate operations in relation to illegal sales.
They have also disrupted six criminal networks that were planning to disrupt the Games next year.
A ticket tout at the Beijing Olympics in 2008
The police warning comes six weeks before the 1.5million Olympic tickets go on sale on March 15 and 18 months before the Games begin.
"It's an extremely lucrative market. There's millions to be made from advertising but not selling tickets," Mr Allison said.
Detective Chief Inspector Nick Downing said he does not want tourists paying for fakes and then coming to the UK without tickets or accommodation.
The parents of Olympic gold medallist Rebecca Adlington were the victims of ticketing fraud and almost missed seeing her triumph in Beijing in 2008.
Rebecca Adlington's parents nearly missed her win in China after a ticket scam
DCI Downing said: "We want to put the fear in them [the touts], not in the public trying to buy tickets and worrying if they are legitimate."
Mr Allison added: "We'll come after you and use whatever legislation we can.
"We want to put the fear onto the touts so it doesn't leave a bad taste in the mouth of the visitors coming to Britain."
Asbos will be among the battery of legal weapons used against touts, along with tighter bail conditions. They will also face having their assets seized.
0 comments:
Post a Comment