Crack Down on Fares Cheats

Travel West Midlands and West Midlands Police have operated 17 Joint Operations under the Operation Safer Travel partnership during February.Phil Bateman, Travel West Midlands, Corporate Affairs Director, said: "We have been working very hard during February. Our revenue inspectors have stopped 3,700 buses and more than 73,000 passengers have had their tickets and passes scrutinised.We have already distributed 1404 ’on the spot’ £10 standard fare cards. We have taken away 308 travel passes from bus passengers for further detailed checks and we want to signal that fraud will not be accepted.We have already recovered £3,813 from passengers who tried to cheat on their fares. Some of that money was recovered by our Revenue Inspectors some via the Bailiffs.The company is determined to ensure that its revenue is not lost due to malpractice by some users who start their journey with the intent not to pay."

Published 11th March 2003