08/03/2011

The Met Crackdown On Ticket Touts

A weekend crackdown on ticket touts has netted eight arrests as the Met's Operation Podium team targeted two football matches.

Four men, aged 23-47, were arrested close to the Emirates stadium in the run up to the match on Saturday. They have since been bailed until dates in April.

A further four men, all in their twenties, were arrested close to Anfield Stadium. They remain in custody.

Working in partnership with Emirates Stadium, Anfield Stadium and Merseyside Police the team carried out planned intelligence led operations to target touts illegally selling match tickets.

Detective Chief Inspector Nick Downing from Operation Podium said: "Ticket touting is an illegal business run by people to gain financially through the exploitation of clubs and their fans. Genuine fans need to be aware they are not only fuelling criminal activity when they buy from a tout, but also putting themselves at risk as they could find themselves amongst opposing supporters.

"If you buy tickets from unofficial places, you run the risk of paying over the odds for a non existent ticket, ending up disappointed by not getting to see the game that you paid for and risk having your personal and credit card details stolen for use in other crimes.

"The arrests are part of the work of Operation Podium to crackdown on organised ticketing networks before the Olympic Games tickets go on sale on 15 March. The team are working now, up to and during the Games to create a difficult environment for touts to operate in and to give clear messages to the public on the safest ways to buy Olympic tickets."

(BMcN/GK)

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