Anti-tout tennis plan may spread to Wembley

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New measures for dealing with touts at Wimbledon this year almost completely stopped the sale of stolen or forged tickets.

Merton and Wandsworth councils and the police enforced a crossborder dispersal zone where police had powers to combat ticket touting and associated problems.

Ticket touts known to the police were contacted by recorded letter to warn them of the dispersal zone.

They were told that anyone found illegally selling tickets could be banned from the area for up to 24 hours and arrested if they were caught again.

The zone was introduced after a marked increase in touting over recent years, when as many as 50 touts and teams of helpers would congregate near Southfields Tube station hoping to attract spectators on their way to the tennis.

The number of forged tickets detected at the Wimbledon ticket gate fell from 200 last year to just six.

Now organisations such as the Rugby Football Union at Twickenham, Chelsea Football Club and Wembley Stadium have contacted Wimbledon organisers to ask for advice.

Merton councillor Tariq Ahmad said: "This new dispersal zone was a great success and is an excellent example of cross-borough co-operation with the councils, police and other agencies working in partnership to put residents and visitors to the borough first."

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. Not only has the zone helped decrease crime and create this more secure area, but it has also opened doors for future events around the UK to use similar tactics."