Request ID: FOI-3371-2223 Date published: 06 April 2023
You asked
Under the FOI act please advise how many fare evasion incidents occurred in the last year and the estimated loss to TFL.
We answered
TfL Ref: 3371-2223
Thank you for your request received by Transport for London (TfL) on 12 March 2023 asking for information about how many incidents occurred in the last year of non-fare paying passengers forcing through the barriers on the London Underground, and the estimated loss to TFL.
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.
In accordance with the FOI Act, we are not obliged to supply the information requested as it is subject to a statutory exemption to the right of access to information under section 31 of the FOI Act, which relates to law enforcement. Specifically, we are refusing your request under section 31(1)(b), which relates to information whose disclosure would be likely to prejudice the apprehension or prosecution of offenders, and section 31(1)(g), which relates to information whose disclosure would be likely to prejudice the exercise by any public authority of its functions or any of the purpose of ascertaining whether any person has failed to comply with the law.
In this instance the exemption has been applied as disclosure of the information you have requested provides information into the public domain regarding methodology and prevalence of fare evasion attempts and could be used by those seeking to evade paying. The purpose of the barriers which are in place at our stations is to ensure that all passengers pay the correct fare for their journey and to keep our fares at the lowest level possible by maximising our fares revenue. Whilst we make no suggestion that you would use this information for anything other than your own personal interest, disclosure of this information to you has to be regarded as a disclosure to ‘the public at large’. 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 our revenue protection efforts are not hindered and that instances of fare evasion are minimised as much as possible to ensure the effective operation of the tube network. It would be strongly against the public interest to release any information that would undermine this.
Please see the attached information sheet for details of your right to appeal.
Yours sincerely
Sara Thomas FOI Case Management Team General Counsel Transport for London
