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London Olympic Games and Paralympic Games (Amendment) Bill

My Lords, I will of course withdraw my amendment, but I am a little disappointed with the Minister’s response. I was hoping that her response would be along the lines of saying that those who were clearly the brains behind the networks would almost certainly be charged with some other offence that would enable a custodial sentence to be imposed, if they were—to quote the assistant commissioner—people who, "““see that they are easily into seven figures and it is money that they will then use for other illegal acts””—[Official Report, Commons, London Olympic Games and Paralympic Games (Amendment) Bill Committee, 17/5/11; col. 49.]." I certainly do not advocate a custodial sentence for the individual in the pub or on the street who sells a very small number of tickets and is not part of an organised network. However, when an assistant commissioner of the Metropolitan Police turns up at the Committee in the other place and talks in terms of ““organised criminal networks””, ““easily into seven figures”” and money that will be used ““for other illegal acts””, I stand by my view and seriously question whether a £20,000 fine is sufficient.