Police seeking to prevent ticket touting at the Olympics have made 16 arrests in the last two days, they said.

Five people were held on suspicion of ticket touting on Friday, just hours before the opening ceremony.

Of these a 57-year-old German and a 30-year-old Slovakian woman were charged with ticket touting, Scotland Yard said.

Officers made a further 11 arrests on suspicion of ticket touting on Saturday.

Two people were also arrested on Friday in relation to the alleged theft of two Olympic Lane passes.

The head of the Metropolitan Police's Operation Podium, Detective Superintendent Nick Downing, said: "My team has been working tirelessly to clamp down on ticket touts. We have been, and will continue to seek out and take robust action against anybody who tries to cash in on the 2012 Games in this way.

"Ticket touting is illegal and is a clear exploitation of those who genuinely wish to experience the Games first-hand.

"I would also urge people to think twice about purchasing tickets from these criminals: if you do, you are likely to find yourself paying over the odds for them, while at the same time fuelling criminality."

He said anybody buying tickets from unofficial places could end up with their personal and credit card details being stolen for use in other crimes.