Operation Vector targets London’s fare evaders

Transport for London (TfL) is implementing a new intelligence-led enforcement initiative, ‘Operation Vector’, to target prolific fare evaders across London’s transport network. Fare evasion is a serious problem in that it prevents TfL from getting vital income, but it is also an offence, where perpetrators are faced with unexpected consequences. In the first month, British Transport Police (BTP) stopped more than 467 people, issued 156 penalty fares, and made 24 arrests. Operation Vector is being implemented by TfL in partnership with BTP to identify and stop persistent fare evaders across the transport network as part of a strategy to tackle fare evasion across all TfL services, with an aim of reducing the rate of fare evasion to below 1.5 per cent by 2030/31. Plain-clothes BTP officers working with Revenue Control teams and uniformed Transport Support Enforcement staff use an intelligence-led approach to identify and intercept persistent fare evaders, who often push through ticket barriers to evade payment. In this new approach, BTP officers are stationed beyond the gateline and use coordinated communications with TfL staff to track and stop fare evaders. TfL expects the operation to significantly increase the number of persistent fare evaders detected, as well as deter offenders and challenge the notion that there will be no consequences for people who push through gateline barriers. Since enforcement activity will not take place at fixed locations, TfL hopes that the operation will influence behaviour and improve compliance across its network. Working closely with the BTP will also provide valuable intelligence on the links between fare evasion and wider criminality, helping TfL and its policing partners to better understand offender profiles and target resources where they can have the greatest impact. As well as Operation Vector, enforcement teams will continue to be deployed at locations where a large proportion of passengers force their way through ticket barriers, or where anti-social behaviour creates an intimidating environment for both customers and staff. In 2024, penalty fares were increased to £100, and staff were issued with body-worn video cameras to deter fare evaders and people who abuse staff. ”Fare evasion is a criminal offence and prevents essential funds being reinvested to improve our transport network. We have a clear message for the small but persistent group of people that aren’t paying the correct fare: we will not tolerate it, and you will be held to account. It’s great to see our targeted enforcement work already having such positive results, supporting our wider fare evasion crackdown across the network with cutting-edge technology and intelligence-led policing. The Mayor and I will continue to support TfL in protecting these vital funds as we build a fairer, safer, better London for everyone.” Seb Dance, Deputy Mayor of London for Transport