Ticket touts are selling fake London New Year’s Eve fireworks tickets for up to £250—five times their official price—prompting warnings from authorities as City Hall addresses last year’s crowd management issues. The only legitimate tickets are available through Ticketmaster, but fraudulent websites and sellers are already advertising stubs at inflated prices.
Tickets for this year’s event, released on October 18, have seen a price increase to £50 for premium zones, up from £20 in 2023. However, secondary ticketing sites are listing tickets for as much as £250 in the Blue and Green Zones, raising concerns over whether they are inflated resales or outright fakes.
David Holley, Head of Events for London, spoke about the rise in fake tickets, a trend also observed at other major events such as the Paris Olympics and Taylor Swift concerts. “A big issue for us is fake websites claiming to be a ticket provider,” he said, confirming that City Hall is working with the Metropolitan Police to combat touts and fraudsters.
Crowd Management Issues Addressed After Last Year’s Event
The 2023 fireworks display drew over 100,000 attendees and millions of TV viewers worldwide, but it was marred by fake tickets and safety issues that led to more than 3,000 refunds. According to City Hall, some people with counterfeit tickets refused to leave the queues, resulting in large crowds and disruptions near transport hubs and entry points.
To address these problems, City Hall has increased the number of licensed stewards, known as SIA stewards, to one in every 15, up from one in 25 last year. These trained personnel will handle ejections, body searches, and crowd incidents, while measures have been put in place to manage the congested “Zone X” area more effectively.
Holley noted that “audience behaviour has changed” and that people are becoming “less compliant” with restrictions. As a precaution, the details of some new crowd control and ticketing measures have been kept confidential to prevent criminal exploitation.
Political Debate Over Safety and Planning
At a City Hall meeting on October 23, Assembly Members (AMs) clashed over the safety of last year’s event. Conservative AM Alessandro Georgiou described the event as a “deathtrap” and called for improvements. Labour AM Bassam Mahfouz responded by questioning the extent of the safety risks, noting that no deaths had occurred during the event.
The discussion also referenced a fatal crowd crush at Brixton Academy in December 2022, where two women lost their lives. Mr. Georgiou warned against waiting for a tragedy to occur before implementing changes, while Mr. Holley defended the safety measures in place and reiterated the need for better crowd management strategies.
Efforts to Combat Fake Tickets
City Hall continues to collaborate with the Met Police to combat ticket fraud, focusing on shutting down fake websites. Last year’s event saw a significant increase in refunds due to fake tickets, with figures rising to three percent of sales compared to 0.1 percent in 2022. The £61,000 paid out in refunds was a substantial increase, equating to the salary of a London Assembly Member.
Nicole Valentinuzzi, Assistant Director of External Relations at the Greater London Authority (GLA), also faced questions about the event’s planning and management, including concerns over political neutrality. She clarified that the fireworks display’s creative direction is handled by an independent team, with minimal involvement from the Mayor’s office.
As the city prepares for the 2024 New Year’s Eve fireworks, officials are urging the public to purchase tickets only through the official channel, Ticketmaster, and to avoid secondary sites where inflated prices and fakes are likely.
