Touts who attempt
to sell tickets for the Olympic and Paralympic Games will be hit
with fines of up to £20,000, Home Secretary Theresa May announced
today during a visit to the OIympic Park.
The government intends to increase the penalty for
'touting' - selling Olympic and Paralympic
tickets in public, or in the course of business, without
permission - from £5,000 to £20,000.
Tickets for the Olympics go on sale next week. With nearly 11
million tickets ultimately available for the Olympic and
Paralympic Games it is very different from other major sporting
and cultural events - making it attractive to ticket touts.
Home Secretary Theresa May said:
"The 2012 Games will be a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity
to experience the Games on home soil. By increasing the fines for
touting we are sending a clear message to criminals and
prospective criminals that it is not worth their while and they
are not welcome.
"The focus of the Government and everyone involved is to
deliver a safe and secure Olympic and Paralympic Games that
London, the UK and the world can enjoy. It will not be spoiled by
ticket touts."
Assistant Commissioner Chris Allison, National Olympic Security
Coordinator, said:
"We do not want our Games blighted by touts. My officers
are working now to make the Olympics as hostile environment as
possible for them, and increasing the penalty will help by sending
a clear warning.
"Touts are part of organised criminal networks, often
involved in other crimes, and we are committed to dismantling them
layer by layer.
Today, we have sent out warning letters to
those who may try to illegally sell Olympic tickets, to warn them
their card is marked and we are watching."
LOCOG Chair Sebastian Coe said,
"We want to get London 2012 tickets into the hands of
enthusiastic sports fans so that our venues are packed to the
rafters at Games-time and provide a fantastic atmosphere for the athletes.
"The message is loud and clear that ticket touts are
not welcome and will face large fines. We urge everyone hoping to
come to the Games to sign up to our website at www.tickets.london2012.com
and ensure that they are applying for tickets through the proper channels."
029/2011
Notes to Editors
1. Touting Olympic and Paralympic tickets was made a criminal
offence by the London Olympic and Paralympic games Act 2006,
punishable by a fine of up to £5,000, to be increased to £20,000.
An amendment to the Act will be laid before Parliament shortly.
2. The Metropolitan Police Service has a dedicated unit -
Operation Podium - to tackle touts and Olympic related fraud.
Since they were formed in June 2010 Operation Podium have made a
total of 49 arrests for offences including touting, fraud and
handling stolen goods.
3. The penalty only applies to selling tickets in a public place
or in the course of business. LOCOG are operating an exchange
system for those who wish to legitimately sell any unwanted
tickets.
4. The latest version of the Olympic Safety and Security strategy
is available on the Home Office website www.homeoffice.gov.uk
Contacts:
Home Office Press Office
Phone: 020 7035 3535
NDS.HO@coi.gsi.gov.uk