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WALTHAMSTOW: Eight arrested for illegal gambling
4:44pm Wednesday 9th July 2008
EIGHT people have been arrested for illegal street gambling in the market area of Walthamstow.
In recent weeks traders, shoppers and other pedestrians have been increasingly frustrated by the number of people encouraging people to gamble, often using the three-card-trick, in games they have little or no chance of winning.
Police in High Street ward say they are now tackling the problem as a priority and in recent weeks have arrested eight people.
Two were cautioned under section 33 of the Gambling Act, which prohibits unlicensed gambling, one was ordered to wear an electronic tag for four weeks by the courts, and others were issued with on-the-spot fines.
Officers are considering applying to the courts for Anti-Social Behaviour Orders to be made against them.
Sgt Philip Steedman said: ""The general public needs to be aware that street gambling is a scam and you have little or no chance of winning."
Anybody with information about illegal street gambling should call Sgt Steedman on 8721 2035
Your Say Your Guardian
Technomist, walthamstow says...
4:59pm Wed 9 Jul 08
Have the High Street's Finest yet bothered to coordinate their activities with the UK Border Agency or ask what the immigration status of the people they arrested was? I am not a gambling man, but it is a near betting certainty that if that was investigated, most if not all of these people would not be here legally - moreover their activities are in clear breach of any known permission or right for a person not a citizen to be in the UK and their continued presence is not conducive to the public good. (See rules 321A(5), 322 and 323 of the Immigration Rules, last updated June 2008).
Turnstone, E17 says...
6:33pm Wed 9 Jul 08
dorothy, walthamstow says...
10:19pm Wed 9 Jul 08
Dan, E17 says...
11:26pm Wed 9 Jul 08
In my eyes the activites of these fellows are no more morally unsound than the owners of Walthamstow Stadium (before they decided to sell up and ruin North Walthamstow).
Sceptic, E17 says...
11:54pm Wed 9 Jul 08
Technomist, walthamstow says...
9:13am Thu 10 Jul 08
Sceptic wrote:I agree. I wonder why they are only being charged with illegal gambling. This isn't really gambling, as you say - it is a well organised conspiracy to defraud. Maybe the clue to the slowness of the police in getting working on this problem and the weakness of the magistrates' responses lies in the mis-characterisation of the activity as if it were a few mates having a flutter. These people are serious criminals who pressure people into placing bets they can't possibly win unless the gang decides they will because the game is rigged from the start. The pressure is psychological, but it can involve physical intimidation. I have seen up to 6 'games' going on at once, with maybe 40 people acting in concert as fake players, onlookers and look-outs. The atmosphere can be quite unpleasant for other people in the High Street simply trying to go about their normal lives. It must be much worse for the victim at the moment he or she realises they are being ripped off and discover they are surrounded by these crooks pressing them to carry on 'betting'. At that point they may as well be being mugged.
Dan, this isn't a game, it's a con-trick. Why are you so harsh on people who fall for it? Being gullible isn't a crime. Being a conman is.
Sceptic, E17 says...
10:26am Thu 10 Jul 08
The DVD sellers are bad enough, but this feels like serious gangster activity. We're insane if we let them carry on with it.
CG, Chingford says...
10:41am Thu 10 Jul 08
Clearly there arent suffient police there to drive these people away perhaps that is what should be attended to.
Michael, wanstead says...
2:14pm Thu 10 Jul 08
when i worked in the market they were alwys busy drinking tea and doing sod all
Technomist, walthamstow says...
4:33pm Fri 11 Jul 08
The DVD and smuggled cigarette sellers with whom they operate in concert were also all there. No doubt they all felt safe in the knowledge that two people have been killed locally and the police are working on that, and anyway, when they were arrested recently they were treated so leniently they must have felt like royalty - as if they were virtually being invited to carry on with their activities. So much for 'tackling the problem as a priority'.
Your sayYour Guardian
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dan, E17 says...
4:52pm Wed 9 Jul 08
To be honest, I have little sympathy. Anyone who is not aware that these games are a scam must be so hopelessly naive that they are probably taken for a ride every day of their lives - singling out these street side charlatans, who at least liven up the street scene, seems unfair.