In a concerted effort to crack down on fare evasion across Transport for London (TfL) services, the Mayor of London has given the green light to an increase in penalty fares. Effective immediately, the penalty fare for those caught evading fares on TfL services will rise from £80 to £100. However, this amount will be reduced to £50 if paid within 21 days of issuance.
The decision to heighten penalty fares comes in response to newly released data revealing a significant surge in fare evasion prosecutions. In 2023 alone, TfL prosecuted 19,614 individuals for fare evasion—an alarming 56 per cent increase compared to the previous year.
Highlighting the critical role of fare revenue in facilitating investment in safe, clean, and reliable public transport, TfL emphasized the necessity of deterring fare evasion. With fare evasion estimated to cost TfL approximately £150 million annually, the objective is to ensure that fare evaders themselves, rather than fare or taxpayers, bear the financial burden of their actions.
This move aligns with the Department for Transport’s recent decision to raise the penalty fare to £100 across National Rail services. Additionally, TfL has taken proactive measures to enhance the safety of frontline customer-facing staff by mandating the use of body-worn video (BWV) cameras as an essential part of their kit. Research indicates that the risk of assaults on staff can nearly halve when BWV cameras are worn.
The latest data on fare evasion underscores the scale of the challenge, with 421 individuals investigated for habitual fare evasion in 2023. These individuals collectively made over 50,000 fraudulent journeys across the London Underground network, resulting in a staggering loss of more than £300,000 in fare revenue. Prosecutions were pursued in 190 cases, with 189 of them culminating in guilty verdicts.
Expressing his support for the stringent measures, the Mayor of London Sadiq Khan emphasized the vital role of fare revenue in delivering high-quality public transport services. He welcomed TfL’s robust enforcement actions to hold fare evaders accountable and ensure justice is served.
Siwan Hayward, TfL’s Director of Security, Policing, and Enforcement, echoed the sentiment, reaffirming TfL’s commitment to apprehending fare evaders and safeguarding the integrity of London’s transport network.
In conclusion, TfL’s decision to ramp up penalties for fare evasion signals a resolute stance against this unlawful behaviour, aiming to uphold the integrity of London’s public transport system and protect the interests of fare-paying passengers.
