Request ID: FOI-0624-2425 Date published: 17 June 2024
You asked
I am writing to inquire about the Irregular Travel Analysis Platform (ITAP) and its role in combating fare evasion.
- Platform Functionality: Could you please provide a detailed explanation of how the ITAP works? Specifically, I am interested in understanding the key components and processes that enable the platform to identify and analyze irregular travel patterns.
- Operational Basis: What are the underlying principles and methodologies that the ITAP employs to detect irregular travel? Any information on the data sources, analytical techniques, and algorithms used would be greatly appreciated.
- Impact on Fare Evasion: How has the implementation of ITAP contributed to reducing fare evasion within the TfL network? Are there any statistics or case studies available that illustrate the effectiveness of the platform?
We answered
Our ref: FOI-0624-2425/GH Thank you for your request received by Transport for London (TfL) on 22 May 2024 asking for information about ITAP. Your request has been considered under the requirements of the Freedom of Information Act 2000 and our information access policy. I can confirm that we do hold the information you require. We take fare evasion extremely seriously and our team of 450 revenue inspectors operate across our network day and night, using new technology and intelligence to identify anyone travelling without a ticket. Fare evasion takes away vital revenue for us to reinvest into our transport network to keep London moving. Fare evasion is a criminal offence that could lead to a fine of up to £1,000 and a criminal record. I am writing to inquire about the Irregular Travel Analysis Platform (ITAP) and its role in combating fare evasion. - Platform Functionality: Could you please provide a detailed explanation of how the ITAP works? Specifically, I am interested in understanding the key components and processes that enable the platform to identify and analyze irregular travel patterns. Irregular Travel Analysis Platform (ITAP) is a detection system that identifies fare evasion and revenue loss from patterns in ticketing and passenger data. The data is used to identify customers who avoid paying for all or part of their journey. ITAP data feeds into TfL's Revenue Protection Programme; this is a comprehensive programme of interventions aimed at reducing fare evasion and ticket fraud. It is informed by data, benchmarking, and evidence of what works in deterring, detecting, and reducing revenue loss. Insights generated by ITAP also support a variety of intervention activities that aim to measure and reduce revenue loss and deter people from evading their fares. These activities include:
Targeted email campaigns warning customers that they must pay the correct fare
Planning effective operational station deployments to tackle fare evasion hotspots on the network
Identify prolific offenders who may be prioritised for further investigation and subsequent prosecution by the investigations teams.
Further information in relation to ITAP can be found in the below links:
Press release 1 - Operational Basis: What are the underlying principles and methodologies that the ITAP employs to detect irregular travel? Any information on the data sources, analytical techniques, and algorithms used would be greatly appreciated. Data gathered for ITAP comes from multiple sources such as Oyster cards, contactless payments, gateline data and number of gates forced open. Data is also gathered through enforcement activity when penalty fares and irregularity reports are issued by our enforcement teams when deployed on the network. All the data is captured and combined, ITAP then uses a series of pattern detection, algorithms and rules to detect instances of irregular travel behaviour which are likely to suggest when fare evasion is taking place. In accordance with the FOI Act, we are not obliged to supply the specific details used as this is subject to a statutory exemption to the right of access to information under sections 31(1)(b) and Section 31(1)(g), which exempt from disclosure information which would, or would be likely to prejudice the apprehension or prosecution of offenders or the exercise of functions for the purpose of ascertaining whether any person has failed to comply with the law.
The use of this exemption is subject to an assessment of the public interest in relation to the disclosure of the information concerned. We recognise the need for openness and transparency by public authorities, but in this instance feel that balance lies in favour of withholding the information to ensure that we are able to continue to reduce fare evasion.
- Impact on Fare Evasion: How has the implementation of ITAP contributed to reducing fare evasion within the TfL network? Are there any statistics or case studies available that illustrate the effectiveness of the platform? ITAP provides TfL with insight into persistent evaders for further investigation. Our investigation team have stopped and interviewed 414 offenders during 2023/2024 with on average 103 evaded journeys per offender. A recent case investigated through the use of ITAP identified a passenger fare evading by using a contactless payment card and failing to validate correctly for their journeys. An investigation into the travel patterns of the passenger identified 193 occasions of fare evasion which totalled unpaid fares of over £1,200. The passenger recently attended court and pleaded guilty to all the offences. Another recent case identified a passenger fare evading by using a bank card that had insufficient funds to pay the fare. Analysis of the card's usage showed a regular failure to validate on every journey made in over a year. CCTV footage was obtained to assist in locating and detecting the offender. The passenger attended court and again pleaded guilty to all the offences; they have been ordered to pay TfL £1,795.60.
Please let me know if this is not the information you are looking for, or if you are unable to access it for some reason.
If you are not satisfied with this response please see the attached information sheet for details of your right to appeal.
Yours sincerely
Graham Hurt FOI Case Officer FOI Case Management Team General Counsel Transport for London
