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New law to stop restaurant touts

Customers are being tempted with cheap meal deals
Restaurant touts in east London's Brick Lane could face fines of up to £20,000 after the introduction of a new byelaw which comes into force on Monday.
Tower Hamlets Council has enforced the byelaw to stop restaurateurs from trying to lure customers into their restaurants by offering cheap deals.

It follows several complaints received by the council over the past few years about touts in the "curry capital".

Touts also face six months in prison if they continue to breach the law.

'Less crime'

Abdul Ullah, from Tower Hamlets Council, said: "It began with just one or two touting for business but this started to affect some other restaurants so badly that they had to start doing the same and before long the situation escalated."

Regular policing of the area and CCTV will be used to enforce the bylaw.

Restaurant owner Asmal Hussein, who claims he is the person who filmed scenes of violence involving restaurant touts, said he is "very happy" that the byelaw has come into effect.

"There will be less crime on the street and less violence and people will be able to freely choose the restaurant they want," he said.

Tower Hamlets Council is also clamping down on touting in all licensed premises, such as bars and clubs, in and around the Brick Lane area.



http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/london/5379704.stm