Newham holds cards in dealing with £1000-a-day street gamblers

Newham Council's Community Safety Unit is working with Green Street East Police Safer Neighbourhood Team in tackling 15 prolific offenders after identifying them using CCTV near Upton Park Station, Green Street. The enterprising gangs are making up to £1,000 per day from illegal fixed betting on the streets.

The zero-tolerance approach to a problem which has gathered pace across the capital over the past two years will see enforcement action matched with preventative measures, including:

• Intensified policing in a bid to deter gamblers from setting up stall
• Plain-clothed police operations
• £300 fines being served to street gamblers
• Installing a police matrix board and signs warning potential victims of the scams operating
• Encouraging victims to step forward as cases are built against those involved
• Pushing for orders to be granted which ban the gamblers from the area

A typical gambling scene involves a gang consisting of a stallholder using a cardboard box as a makeshift table and four or five cohorts posing as incredibly lucky players. The most popular con sees unaware passers-by betting on which cup a ball is under or which disc has a white spot on the underside after the stallholder has shuffled them. People are lured in by seemingly winnable odds as the illegitimate players boast about their impressive winning streaks.

Even if the bet is correctly placed the real player is set to lose - the disc or cup can be switched or a correct bet trumped by a fake punter placing a bet of £40 or more, ensuring that just the betting money is returned to the player and not the prize money at stake.

Cllr June Leitch, Newham Council executive member for antisocial behaviour, said: "This is a growing problem across the capital. These crooks are little more than shysters preying on those who like to have a flutter. We would always recommend people use licensed betting shops in the borough. Not only is street gambling illegal but the odds are rigged.

"The council and Police have the ultimate trick up our sleeves as we have identified the ringleaders and are working in partnership to banish them from the borough."

Green Street West Safer Neighbourhood Acting Sgt John Stimpson said: "I urge members of the public to not participate in these scams. These are not games of chance, but are well thought out tricks tempting the public to enter the game in the belief that they will win money. The reality is, they stand no chance of doing so.

"I am pleased with the positive steps being made with the council in an attempt to stamp this problem out for good."

Anyone who has been affected by street gambling in Green Street can contact Newham Council's antisocial behaviour hotline on: 0800 731 3300. Alternatively, call the Green Street East Safer Neighbourhood Team on: 020 8721 2526 or email greenstreeteast.SNT@met.police.uk.