Prolific fare evaders targeted in major crackdown on London Underground

Transport bosses are targeting prolific fare evaders to crack down on evasion across London Underground.

Professional investigators will single out people across the network using advanced technology to halve revenue loss.

More than 500 uniformed Transport for London officers are already patrolling the network to tackle the problem.

TfL wants to halve fare evasion across services to 1.5 per cent or less by 2030. Revenue is critical to sustaining safe, clean, and reliable public transport.

The Mayor of London, Sadiq Khan, said: "Fare evasion is a criminal offence which deprives TfL of thousands of pounds of vital revenue every year that could be reinvested in London’s transport network.

"That's why we're expanding our team of professional investigators to cover the whole network and investing in the latest technology to target the worst offenders. It sends a clear message: fare evasion will not be tolerated, and we will hold those who do it to account.

"The team is supporting more than 500 uniformed TfL officers across the network who are already going after fare evaders and helping to keep the public safe. The latest data shows that TfL’s efforts to reduce fare evasion on the network is working, but there is more to do.

"I'm determined to do all I can to support the vital work TfL is doing to ensure these vital funds are reinvested into improving transport services for Londoners."

One major area of focus for TfL’s enforcement teams is contactless payment card fare evasion.

In one recent case, an individual used a contactless payment card to evade paying the correct fare across 202 journeys.

After investigation, the individual was ordered to pay £1,472 in fines, one of the thousands who are caught and prosecuted each year, resulting in financial penalties and criminal convictions.