Wimbledon touts exploit legal loophole

A covert clampdown on the thriving touting business at the world's favourite tennis tournament has been launched by police.

Unlike the World Cup and other major football matches, Wimbledon is not classed as a designated sporting event – meaning touts can manipulate the law to buy and sell without being prosecuted.

Debenture tickets are being sold with 10,000 mark-ups each, while touts hire full-time solicitors to avoid prosecution.

Sergeant Phil Davies, 45, said: "The debentures are a huge money earner for the professional touts – as the tournament progresses that is where the money is being made. If it is a predictable final the prices can start dropping but if you've got an unlikely hero the opposite happens.

"Murray tickets will bump up the prices by up to 200 per cent.

"One couple last year paid 14,000 each for Murray's semi-final. They only stayed for a couple of hours."

Police are using dispersal powers and anti-social legislation in an attempt to keep the touts under control. They also keep in regular contact with touts in an attempt to establish if any are selling forged tickets.

"The legislation is ok but you have got to talk to the people," the officer added. "At the moment I feel we are controlling it."

They avoid arrest by being advised on what they should say when selling tickets.