Request ID: FOI-1170-2122 Date published: 20 September 2021
You asked
A copy of the bus policy discretion for drivers when allowing passengers to board without paying
published data on fare evasion
published data on amount spent on revenue protection
We answered
TfL Ref: 1170-2122
Thank you for your request received by us on 27 August 2021 from the Mayor’s office asking for a copy of the guidance given to bus drivers on discretion around non-payment of fares by bus passengers. Your request has been considered in accordance with the requirements of the Freedom of Information Act and our information access policy. I can confirm that we hold the information you require.
Most of our staff information can be found within the Big Red Book issued to all drivers and other bus staff. A link to a previously published response where we attached the latest version of the Big Red Book 2019 is as follows.:
In accordance with section 21 of the FOI Act, we are not obliged to supply you with a copy of the requested information as it is already accessible to you elsewhere.
In relation to the other questions you asked, we do not routinely publish information on fare evasion or the amount spent on revenue protection on our website however we have published responses to previously answered FOI requests which may be of interest to you. These are available using the following links:
Many of our frontline staff who would ordinarily undertake ticket checking activity have been deployed to other priorities since the start of the pandemic, such as enforcement of face coverings and providing advice, support and reassurance to customers. Surveying activity has not taken place since the start of the pandemic. This has resulted in an absence of any reportable data on fare evasion rates and revenue loss estimates
If this is not the information you are looking for, or if you are unable to access it for any reason, 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
Sara Thomas FOI Case Management Team General Counsel Transport for London
