Ticket touts and other illegal traders at this weekend’s Grand National meeting have been warned they face a crackdown on their activities.
The city council’s licensing and regulatory services are warning them not to try and take advantage of one of the biggest events in the sporting and social calendar.
The Crabbies Grand National Festival, will bring in crowds of over 150,000 race goers many of whom will look to extend their racing day out in the city centre pubs, clubs, bars and restaurants with an estimated spending spree of up to £40m. The council and its partners want to ensure they are not targeted by illegal operators.
Councillor Christine Banks, Chair of the Licensing Committee, said: “The Grand National meeting event attracts tens of thousands of visitors to the city and we want to show the best of Liverpool and its attractions.
“We will be working throughout the week and at the weekend to ensure a safe, enjoyable experience for race goers and visitors to the city.
“Along with the police, we have had a very positive meeting with licensees to encourage them to make visitors welcome and to ensure that their facilities are such that they want to come back to the city.”
John McHale Head of Licensing said: “Events such as this are great for Liverpool and we want people to enjoy themselves and go away with a positive image of our city.
‘We will work alongside the legitimate licensed trade, taxi and private hire trade operating in the city to ensure that people have a safe, enjoyable day and night in a city that has one of the most vibrant night time economies in the country.
“The vast majority of the licensed trade and taxi drivers and operators are a credit to the city in supporting big events and we have to ensure their efforts are not undermined by the few wishing to make a fast buck.”
Officers will be working around the clock alongside Merseyside Police, British Transport Police ,and the council’s parking and neighbourhood teams to tackle issues such as ticket touting, illegal street trading, illegal taxi and private hire activity,
counterfeiting, and the management of taxi ranks around the Aintree course.
There will also be a crackdown on littering in line with the zero tolerance approach announced at the recent Mayoral summit on the environment,
A total of eight operations will take place over the three day event, with licensed premises being inspected for the sale of illicit alcohol while activities such as cherry picking and plying for hire in the taxi trade will be clamped down upon. Illegal street traders will be arrested with goods seized and ticket touting will be banned and touts will have the tickets seized.
