Request ID: FOI-1098-2223 Date published: 12 August 2022
You asked
Dear Sirs
I have been referred to you as I asked for some information under the freedom of information act regarding fare evasion on TFL.
I would like to know how much money has and is being lost by people deliberately avoiding paying fares due to the practice that is now in place of people not paying fares by walking through or jumping over the barriers at Underground stations as staff have been told not to challenge them..
I understand why this is but I have heard youths on trains boasting that they never pay their fare and advising all their pals to do the same as they know they will get away with it.
When I asked at my local underground station what happened regarding that I was told that the number of evaders is noted and sent off somewhere to be collated. What happens to these figures and also is anything going to be done to tackle this situation?
I am over 70 and have a freedom pass but it annoys me extremely that these people are continually allowed to get away with this and presumably this partly leads to the need for fare rises.
I would be obliged if you could provide me with the information
We answered
TfL Ref: FOI-1098-2223
Thank you for your request received by Transport for London (TfL) on 2nd August 2022 asking for information about fare evasion on the London Underground.
Your request has been considered in accordance with the requirements of the Freedom of Information Act /and our information access policy.
Specifically you asked:
“I would like to know how much money has and is being lost by people deliberately avoiding paying fares due to the practice that is now in place of people not paying fares by walking through or jumping over the barriers at Underground stations as staff have been told not to challenge them..
I understand why this is but I have heard youths on trains boasting that they never pay their fare and advising all their pals to do the same as they know they will get away with it.
When I asked at my local underground station what happened regarding that I was told that the number of evaders is noted and sent off somewhere to be collated. What happens to these figures and also is anything going to be done to tackle this situation?
I can confirm that we hold the information you require.
We take fare evasion extremely seriously. TfL employs over 450 revenue inspectors who operate across the whole network day and night, using new technology and intelligence to identify anyone travelling without a ticket. Every mode of transport has a dedicated team of Revenue Inspectors in place to tackle fare evasion and ticket fraud through proactive ticket checking and investigation of irregularities. Through continued partnership working with the police and intelligence gathering we will push for the toughest penalties for anyone caught fare evading on our services. Fare evasion takes away vital revenue for us to reinvest into our transport network to keep London moving.
In 2019 we undertook a thorough analysis of existing data to give our most accurate estimate of annual revenue loss, which for the London Underground was £91m.
All survey activity was paused since the beginning of the pandemic to minimise the risk of infection to staff. We are currently restarting surveys with a view to developing a more consistent, robust and reliable way of calculating revenue loss in the future. Data recorded by station staff is fed back to our analysis teams and is used as intelligence to assist in the deployment of our Revenue Inspectors
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
