Question to the Home Office:

To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the efficacy of existing legislation in preventing the re-sale of football match tickets.

The unauthorised resale of tickets (also known as “ticket touting”) for regulated football matches is prohibited under the Criminal Justice & Public Order Act 1994. This public order provision explicitly applies to football in view of the importance of segregation in reducing the potential for disorder between rival fans.

The police and courts can and do enforce the legislation in a proportionate and targeted way when breaches to the segregation of supporters might increase the risk to public order.

It is an operational decision for police match commanders whether it is appropriate to direct resources to deal with ticket touts.