Transport for London (TfL) is prosecuting about 10,000 fewer fare dodgers a year than before the pandemic, according to figures released on Friday. Fare evasion costs TfL an estimated £130 million annually in lost income, enough to freeze fares.
Tube station staff reported over 756,000 cases of fare evasion last year, a 51% increase on 2022. TfL prosecuted 19,614 people across all modes in 2023, up 56% on 2022 but down from 29,113 in 2019/20. Only 4,325 of 18,765 prosecutions in 2022/23 were on the Underground.
Since last week, all frontline staff have been equipped with body-worn cameras to reduce risks from fare dodgers, as fare disputes trigger about half of violent incidents. The penalty fare will rise from £80 to £100 on March 3.
TfL estimates 3.9% of journeys are dodged, with £7.2 million recouped through penalties. Fare evasion is a criminal offence punishable by a fine of up to £1,000. Last year, TfL investigated 421 habitual evaders responsible for over 50,000 irregular journeys costing more than £300,000.
Siwan Hayward, TfL’s director of security, said: “Fare evasion impacts our customers and our staff, and can make public transport feel unsafe. We strive to ensure that wherever possible it is fare evaders themselves, not fare or tax payers, pay the cost.”
Mayor Sadiq Khan insisted “real progress” was being made, while Liberal Democrat transport spokesperson Caroline Pidgeon called for more decisive action, noting prosecutions remain below pre-pandemic levels despite lower passenger numbers.
