Two individuals have been arrested in Bristol following a police operation aimed at shutting down an alleged illegal casino. The operation was a collaborative effort involving members of the Harbourside Neighbourhood Policing Team, the Gambling Commission, and the South West Regional Organised Crime Unit (SWROCU).
The raid took place on July 10, when authorities executed a search warrant at a location on Lower College Street. A 36-year-old man and a 40-year-old woman were arrested on suspicion of gambling offences. They have since been released on bail as investigations continue.
Sergeant Michael Friis from the Harbourside Neighbourhood Policing Team highlighted the importance of community involvement in these types of cases, stating, "Community intelligence plays a vital role in tackling criminal activity and keeping our neighbourhoods safe. We encourage anyone who has concerns about suspicious or illegal activity in their area to continue reporting it to the police."
This incident follows a similar operation in Manchester just a month earlier, where a 33-year-old man and a 66-year-old woman were detained for running an unlicensed gambling venue. Sue Young, executive director of operations at the Gambling Commission, had remarked, "Tackling all forms of illegal gambling is a focus for the Commission."
In May, the Commission announced plans to enhance enforcement against illegal land-based gambling activities during a meeting of the Bingo Association. Acting Chief Executive Sarah Gardner noted that the government is providing £26 million over the next three years to facilitate these efforts.
In a related development, two individuals involved in a betting scandal linked to the timing of an election have pleaded guilty to cheating offences. Craig Williams, a former parliamentary private secretary to Rishi Sunak, and Amy Hind, the spouse of Conservative deputy digital director Anthony Hind, placed bets on the exact timing of the general election shortly before it was publicly announced that it would occur in July.
