Council staff and the police are joining forces to tackle touts illegally selling tickets at Wimbledon Tennis Championships over the next fortnight.
Wandsworth Council has again teamed up with Merton Council, the Metropolitan Police and the Lawn Tennis Association.
Police have reported a 97 per cent decrease in the sale of stolen and forged tickets compared to previous years.
Known touts have been warned by police by letter, telling them that anyone found loitering in groups of two or more can be dispersed from the area for up to 24 hours.
If they are caught selling tickets during the Championships they can be arrested.
Criminal offences associated with stolen or forged tickets and the number of ‘stop and search’ incidents both fell sharply, by 60 per cent and 70 per cent respectively.
Police Superintendent Graeme Thomson: “Last year’s dispersal zone was such a great success we had interest from sporting organisations such as the National Football Unit, the national rugby stadium at Twickenham, Chelsea Football Club and Wembley Stadium”.
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