THREE people were arrested in Birmingham, England today, relating to match-fixing allegations on a boxing fight last year.

On the Gambling Commission's website, they wrote that a 54-year-old woman and two men, aged 33 and 23, were arrested as part of an investigation led by them and supported by West Midlands Police.

All three have allegedly committed offences under section 42 of the Gambling Act 2005, stating anyone found guilty shall be liable for a prison sentence up to two years, a monetary fine or both.

The investigation was launched following reports of suspicious betting activity linked to a boxing match last year - and no specific details were disclosed.

The section of legislation also states a person commits an offence if they cheat at gambling, or does anything which enables or assists another person to do so. It is also immaterial whether a person who cheats improves their chances of winning.

The Gambling Commission added no further comment at this time.

42 - Cheating

(1) A person commits an offence if he—

(a) cheats at gambling, or

(b) does anything for the purpose of enabling or assisting another person to cheat at gambling.

(2) For the purposes of subsection (1) it is immaterial whether a person who cheats—

(a) improves his chances of winning anything, or

(b) wins anything.

(3) Without prejudice to the generality of subsection (1) cheating at gambling may, in particular, consist of actual or attempted deception or interference in connection with—

(a) the process by which gambling is conducted, or

(b) a real or virtual game, race or other event or process to which gambling relates.

(4) A person guilty of an offence under this section shall be liable—

(a) on conviction on indictment, to imprisonment for a term not exceeding two years, to a fine or to both, or (b) on summary conviction, to imprisonment for a term not exceeding [F1, the general limit in a magistrates ’court], to a fine not exceeding the statutory maximum or to both.

(5) In the application of subsection (4) to Scotland the reference to [F2, the general limit in a magistrates ’court] shall have effect as a reference to six months.

(6) Section 17 of the Gaming Act 1845 (c. 109) (winning by cheating) shall cease to have effect.