Transport for London (TfL) has intensified its efforts to combat fare evasion, resulting in a significant increase in ticket and payment checks, as well as penalty fares.
The number of contactless payment cards checked by TfL enforcement officers rose by 50 per cent last year, while penalty fares issued increased by nearly 10 per cent.
The enforcement teams operate across the entire transport network, carrying out ticket checks and utilising technology to identify individuals travelling without the correct ticket or fare.
The latest data reveals that between April 2025 and March 2026, TfL issued 69,001 penalty fares, a nine per cent increase from the previous year, and 21,533 Irregularity Reports for possible prosecution, an 18.7 per cent increase.
A significant rise in revenue has been noted from Revenue Inspection Charges, generating £5.4 million from individuals without valid Contactless Payment Cards, a 141.6 per cent increase from last year. Additionally, TfL has checked 6.9 million contactless payment cards and 3.3 million bus passengers, resulting in 14,406 convictions for fare evasion and £2.6 million in court awards.
To further tackle fare evasion, TfL is increasing the number of Transport Support and Enforcement Officers patrolling the network with a focus on night shifts. This move aims to reduce the risk of work-related violence and aggression for frontline staff and increase checks across the network.
Fare evasion is a criminal offence that deprives TfL of vital income, which could benefit all customers.
Siwan Hayward, TfL's Director of Security, Policing, and Enforcement, said: "The overwhelming majority of customers pay the correct fare, and it's unfair that a minority avoid paying. That's why we are strengthening our capability to detect and deter fare evasion, as shown by the significant increases in enforcement activity across our network – from more customer ticket checks to more officers on the ground and higher levels of revenue recovered.
"Fare evasion is not a victimless crime. It robs Londoners of vital investment in a safe, frequent and reliable transport network. We are committed to ensuring that those who evade fares face the consequences of their actions, and that the cost of fare evasion is paid by the evaders, not our fare paying customers."
