Crackdown on Fare Dodgers Sees £3.4m Recovered for Taxpayers
A significant crackdown on fare dodgers by South Western Railway (SWR) has resulted in the recovery of £3.4 million in taxpayer money in 2024. According to the train operator, approximately seven million journeys are made without a valid ticket on its network annually, out of a total of 153.2 million journeys. This costs SWR almost £40 million a year, which could have been reinvested to improve services and value for money.
The issue of fare dodging is a persistent one, with SWR’s revenue protection policy identifying numerous cases of individuals deliberately avoiding payment. One notable example is a fraudster who owed over £49,000 for five years of dodging fares. SWR’s efforts to tackle this problem have been bolstered by its specially trained teams, which work around the clock to check tickets on stations and trains.
Peter Williams, customer and commercial director at SWR, commented: “Most customers on our network pay the correct fare and we understand genuine mistakes happen. But there’s growing evidence of some systematically abusing the system – a criminal offence that deprives the railway of hundreds of millions of pounds each year. Our specially trained teams work around the clock to check tickets on stations and trains. They face many challenges, but their efforts have helped cut ticketless travel by more than 40 per cent since 2017 and recover millions of pounds of taxpayer money.”
The figures released by SWR highlight the scale of the problem and the effectiveness of its revenue protection policy. The company’s efforts have been documented in a new series of Channel 5’s behind-the-scenes documentary, ‘Fare Dodgers: At War with the Law’, which premieres tonight at 9 pm. The documentary provides a glimpse into the work of SWR’s revenue protection team and the challenges they face in enforcing fare payment.
The recovery of £3.4 million in taxpayer money is a significant achievement for SWR, and demonstrates the effectiveness of its efforts to tackle fare dodging. As reported by London News Online, the train operator has made a concerted effort to identify and prosecute individuals who deliberately avoid paying their fares.
In an interview with London News Online, Peter Williams emphasised the importance of tackling fare dodging: “Fare dodging is a serious issue that affects not just the railway industry, but taxpayers as a whole. We are committed to doing everything in our power to prevent fare dodging and ensure that those who deliberately avoid paying their fares are held accountable.”
The issue of fare dodging is a complex one, with many factors contributing to the problem. However, SWR’s efforts to tackle the issue have been shown to be effective, with a 40 per cent reduction in ticketless travel since 2017. As the train operator continues to work to prevent fare dodging, it is likely that further progress will be made in recovering taxpayer money and improving services for passengers.
According to London News Online, SWR’s revenue protection policy has been successful in identifying and prosecuting fare dodgers, and the company’s efforts have helped to recover millions of pounds of taxpayer money. The train operator’s commitment to tackling fare dodging is clear, and its efforts are likely to have a positive impact on the railway industry as a whole.
In conclusion, the recovery of £3.4 million in taxpayer money by SWR is a significant achievement, and demonstrates the effectiveness of its efforts to tackle fare dodging. As reported by London News Online, the train operator’s revenue protection policy has been successful in identifying and prosecuting fare dodgers, and its efforts are likely to have a positive impact on the railway industry as a whole.
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