Teather calls for action to tackle ticket touts

9.02.09am UTC (GMT +0000) Wed 11th Aug 2004

Sarah Teather is calling for tough action to tackle ticket touts

Local Liberal Democrat MP Sarah Teather has today written to Transport for London and the Metropolitan Police calling for action to cut down on ticket touts that harass passengers outside tube stations. The Brent East MP is concerned that touts are becoming increasingly intimidating and are putting people off from using public transport late at night.

Local Liberal Democrat MP Sarah Teather said:

"As a young woman who frequently uses the tube late at night, I find these ticket touts particularly intimidating. I use Willesden Green and Kilburn tube stations daily, there are always the same touts hanging about outside harassing local people.

"Local residents often tell me how concerned they are about using the tube late at night because they feel threatened by the people who hang about outside tube stations. We must do all we can to tackle this problem and promote public transport use.

"I hope the police and Transport for London will take firm action to remove these touts from our tube stations. Too often the touts disappear for one night and are back the next after a visit form the police or they just move on to the next station."