A crackdown on ticket touts lead to a huge drop in the number of forged tickets circulating for this year’s Wimbledon Championships, Merton Council have said.
Just six fake tickets were used to try and gain entry into this year’s tournament - compared to 200 last summer.
The council said a new dispersal zone around the All England Club and better targeting of known touts were the reasons for the drop.
The new measures were introduced this year by the police and Merton Council.
The dispersal zone allowed police officers to quickly move on anyone illegally selling tickets in the area, with the threat of arrest if they returned within 24 hours.
Superintendent Graeme Thompson of Merton police said: “With the All England Club being chosen as a venue for the 2012 Olympic Games, having a safe environment for visitors and people living in the area will be increasingly important.
“The zone has helped to decrease crime and create a more secure area.”
This year the total number of arrests at the championships linked to stolen or forged tickets fell by 70 per cent.
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