Prosecutions for Tube fare evasion jump to highest level in six years

"Penalty fares issued on the Docklands Light Railway (DLR) are set to double this year, as the number of prosecutions for fare evasion on the London Underground has risen to its highest level in six years. Between April and November 2026, a total of 4,472 penalties were handed out for avoiding paying on the DLR, compared with 2,571 in the year leading to March 2025."

"Penalty fares are set at 100 and reduced to 50 if paid within 21 days. TfL have spent nearly 14.2m cracking down on fare-dodging on the Underground (stock image) (Getty/iStock) The issue gained increased attention over the last year, with Tory MP Robert Jenrick filming himself catching fare evaders, TfL said it spent nearly 14.2m cracking down on the issue on the Tube, as well as investing 7.7m on the bus network in 2023-4."

Penalty fares on the Docklands Light Railway are set to double this year after a sharp increase in penalties for fare evasion. Between April and November 2026, 4,472 penalties were issued on the DLR, compared with 2,571 in the year to March 2025. Transport for London issued 13,118 penalty fare notices and 850 written warnings in 2024-25 and enforces a penalty of 100 reduced to 50 if paid within 21 days. TfL reported spending nearly 14.2m on Tube enforcement and 7.7m on bus enforcement in 2023-24. Reports of work-related violence and aggression exceeded 10,490 in 2023-24, with about half occurring after staff approached fare evaders.

Read at www.independent.co.uk