Cost effectiveness of measures to counter fare evasion
Request ID: FOI-1014-2425 Date published: 25 July 2024
You asked
What was the actual cost of carrying out fare evasion ticket inspections on each of:
Underground,
Overground,
Trams,
Elizabeth Line, and
Buses?
What was the value of evaded fares detected by ticket inspections for each of these modes?
What was the total value of penalty fares charged to those caught evading fares as a result of ticket inspections, again my mode?
Has an assessment been carried out of the value of fares evaded but not detected by ticket inspections?
Clarification received 01/07/2024: Last year please, whether that is calendar, financial, or whatever, what I want is a snapshot of the most recent 12 month period.
We answered
TfL Ref: FOI-1014-2425
Thank you for your request of 26th June 2024 – as clarified on 1st July 2024 – asking for information about measures to counter fare evasion on the TfL network. Your request has been considered in accordance with the requirements of the Freedom of Information Act and our information access policy. Specifically you asked:
“What was the actual cost of carrying out fare evasion ticket inspections on each of:
Underground, Overground, Trams, Elizabeth Line, and Buses?
What was the value of evaded fares detected by ticket inspections for each of these modes? What was the total value of penalty fares charged to those caught evading fares as a result of ticket inspections, again my mode? Has an assessment been carried out of the value of fares evaded but not detected by ticket inspections?”.
You then clarified that the request related to the last 12 month period for which data is held.
I can confirm that we hold some of the information you require. Your questions are answered in turn below:
Question 1: What was the actual cost of carrying out fare evasion ticket inspections on each of:
Underground, Overground, Trams, Elizabeth Line, and Buses
Answer: We take fare evasion extremely seriously and our team of revenue inspectors provide a vital deterrent that influences the rate of fare evasion. Revenue inspectors operate across our network day and night, using new technology and intelligence to identify anyone travelling without a ticket. We take action against thousands of fare evaders every year. Fare evasion takes away vital revenue from us to reinvest in our transport network to keep London moving. Fare evaders are often intimidating or abusive to our colleagues and to our customers. The harm they cause is much greater than simply the missed cost of a ticket.
We have a multi-pronged strategy in place to reduce the risk of fare evasion and have set a target to bring the level of fare evasion below 1.5%. Fare evasion is a criminal offence that could lead to a fine of up to £1,000. For the London Overground, London Trams and the Elizabeth Line, TfL does not hold information on the cost of carrying out revenue enforcement as these services are operated by franchisees who, in turn, outsource their enforcement teams.
The cost of the London Underground enforcement team who carry out revenue control on the Underground network for 2023/24 was £14.2m.
The cost for revenue enforcement on the bus network for 2023/24 was £7.7m.
Question 2: What was the value of evaded fares detected by ticket inspections for each of these modes?
Answer: The current rate of fare evasion rate across bus, rail and trams (TfL modes) is estimated to be 3.8%. Based on our current data the annual loss due to unpaid fares during the financial year 2022/23 is estimated to be circa £130m.
Question 3: What was the total value of penalty fares charged to those caught evading fares as a result of ticket inspections, again my mode?
Answer: Data is for the Financial Year 2023/24 unless otherwise stated:
London Underground = £638,520. London Overground = £560,944. Trams = £32,328 (data covers period 25 June 2023 to 22 June 2024) Elizabeth Line = £756,534. Buses = £707,272.
Question 4: Has an assessment been carried out of the value of fares evaded but not detected by ticket inspections?
Answer: Our analysis of the rate and revenue loss from fare evasion is covered in the response to question 2. To determine the rate of fare evasion we conduct ticketless travel and irregularity surveys across our modes. These provide an insight into the level of fare evasion not identified through ticket inspectors. We also capture data via contactless and through data on forced gates along with other data sources to give us confidence in our assessment of the rate of fare evasion.
If this is not the information you are looking for please do not hesitate to contact me.
Please see the attached information sheet for details of your right to appeal as well as information on copyright and what to do if you would like to re-use any of the information we have disclosed.
Yours sincerely,
David Wells FOI Case Officer FOI Case Management Team General Counsel Transport for London
