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Olympic News Desk
The Metropolitan Police dedicated unit combating organised criminal networks involved in ticketing crime "Operation Podium Team" have this morning made five arrests. From 0700hrs this morning, officers started executing warrants at addresses across London and Dorset. All those targeted by police have been subject to ongoing investigations linking them to a range of highly profitable ticketing crimes.
Detective Chief Inspector Nick Downing, in charge of Operation Podium, said: "Today's operation is about disrupting those organised criminal networks involved in illegally selling tickets. By taking action now we are aiming to make this a hostile environment for them to operate.
"The victims are those people who get scammed, have their personal and credit card details stolen and who ultimately don't get to the event they want to see."
The arrests are part of the work of Operation Podium to crackdown on organised ticketing networks before the Olympic Games tickets ballot opens on 15 March.
The team are working now, up to and during the Games to create a difficult environment for organised criminal networks to operate in and to give clear messages to the public on the safest ways to buy Olympic tickets.
Assistant Commissioner Chris Allison, National Olympic Security Coordinator and Met lead for the Games said:"From touts to website masterminds Podium is cracking down on those people who flout the law and make thousands through illegal and fake ticket sales.
"The Olympics is the greatest sporting event in the world and tickets will be in huge demand. This means greater opportunities for crooks and criminals to break the law and con people. Our message is clear if you are part of these networks then beware we will be looking at you and we will take whatever steps we can to stop you."
A 43 year old man [A] was arrested at a business address in Brixton on suspicion of fraud. He has been taken to a south London police station. Officers from Podium believe the business address to be a front for an illegal ticket website, selling tickets to football matches that the company is not authorised to do.
A 25 year old man [B] was arrested at a residential address in Bromley on suspicion of money laundering. He has been taken to a south London police station. Detectives have information linking this man to processing money on behalf of fraudulent internet ticketing sites.
A 57 year old man [C] was arrested at an address in Edgware on suspicion of handling stolen goods and fraud. He has been taken to a north London police station. Officers from Podium believe him to be involved in selling stolen rugby match tickets on line, through an auction site. Officers also executed a warrant at a business address in Edgware.
A 28 year old man [D] was arrested in Kensington, he is wanted on warrant for failing to appear at court, and for recall to prison. He has been taken to a west London police station. The address was searched by officers. Detectives believe the address to be linked to the use of stolen credit card details to buy tickets to various events that have been sold on to touts. Police believe there is evidence to link stolen credit card details to the purchase of concert tickets.
Officers also executed a second warrant in Kensington.
Four warrants were executed at addresses in Dorset - Bournemouth, Poole, Wimbourne and Ferndown. At the Wimbourne address officers arrested a 36 year old woman [E] on suspicion of fraud. She has been taken to a local police station. Detectives believe that she may have been involved in running on line ticket sites that fail to supply tickets people have paid for.
For crime prevention advice on how to buy your Olympic ticket safely and legitimately visit www.met.police.uk
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