Request ID: FOI-2025-2122 Date published: 20 December 2021
You asked
Since 01/01/2021 how many fines have been issued to people which were later withdrawn due to them been exempt?
What training have staff been given on exemptions?
How many exemption badges have been issued since 01/01/2021?
Do you have any data on how many people with an exemption are carrying those badges?
We answered
TfL Ref: FOI-2025-2122
Thank you for your request received by Transport for London (TfL) on 5th December 2021 asking for information about face covering exemptions.
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 some of the information you require. Your questions are answered below, so far as we can:
Question 1: Since 01/01/2021 how many fines have been issued to people which were later withdrawn due to them been exempt?
Answer: 397 Fixed Penalty Notices (FPN) have been withdrawn following mitigation since 1st January 2021.
Question 2: What training have staff been given on exemptions?
Answer: All TfL Enforcement Operations Officers were trained via a face to face briefing and all have been issued with a detailed training pack regarding the face covering regulations. This includes information about exemptions such as what could cause a person to be exempt and the scenarios that allow a person to remove a face covering, as well as examples of the different badges an exempt person may use.
Question 3: How many exemption badges have been issued since 01/01/2021?
Answer: 130,523 exemption badges have been issued.
Question 4: Do you have any data on how many people with an exemption are carrying those badges?
Answer: TfL does not hold this information.
More general information on face covering requirements on TfL services - including exemptions - can be found on our website here:
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
