Scotrail is launching a clampdown on fraudsters who deliberately try to avoid paying the correct fare for their journey.
The rail operator has announced it is taking further steps to tackle ticket fraud through a series of behind-the-scenes initiatives. An additional 69 ticket examiners are being employed from this month to make it even more difficult for potential fraudsters to avoid paying the correct fare.
It is estimated that around £10million of public money is lost each year to fare evasion and fraud on ScotRail services – public funds that could otherwise be reinvested into the rail network to impose a clampdown on fraudsters who deliberately try to avoid paying the correct funds.
The rail operator has announced it is taking further steps to tackle ticket fraud through a series of behind-the-scenes initiatives. An additional 69 ticket examiners are being employed from this month to make it even more difficult for potential fraudsters to avoid paying the correct fare.
The most common types of fare evasion ScotRail encounters include:
- Short journey claims: Individuals purchasing tickets for shorter journeys, including online, but traveling further than their ticket permits.
- Railcard misuse: Passengers using discounted railcards they are not entitled to or sharing personal railcards with others.
- Self-service ticket machine abuse: Customers exploiting or deliberately misusing self-service ticket machines to avoid paying the correct fare.
To address these challenges, ScotRail implements a variety of targeted actions aimed at both preventing and catching fare evaders. They include increased ticket checks at stations, increased staffing, and the use of advanced data analysis to identify fraudulent behaviour.
Monitoring of self-service ticket machine usage, along with regular audits, also ensures that any suspicious activity is swiftly investigated. Scotrail has also increased the number of staff dedicated to revenue protection, adding more automatic ticket gate staff, on-train teams, and new mobile Revenue Protection Officers.
Together, they will carry out comprehensive checks on tickets and fare compliance. They can set up temporary barriers at any station and conduct full ticket checks. They are authorised to take names and addresses for further investigation if passengers are found to be attempting fare evasion.
Revenue Protection Officers will also patrol trains across Scotland’s railway in addition to existing on train staff, focusing on known routes and offenders. Using their specialised training, they target repeat offenders and take appropriate action – which in severe cases, may include prosecution.
In cases where fraud is identified, ScotRail calculates the total unpaid fare owed, which can amount to thousands of pounds. The train operator can, if required, seek civil recovery, which may affect the offender’s credit rating, or work with British Transport Police to pursue criminal prosecution in severe cases. These measures have already proven to be effective. During the past year, ScotRail has recouped £25,000 from people who have been caught travelling fraudulently through targeted interventions.
This includes when ScotRail’s on-train staff found a passenger travelling between Easterhouse and Glasgow Queen Street claiming a discount which they were not entitled to, the train operator’s Revenue Protection team was able to review CCTV and individuals account history. Following interactions with a Revenue Protection Officer, the individual settled to a value of more than £1,000.
Another passenger, who was travelling to Glasgow Queen Street, had been making mTicket purchases which claimed they boarded at Bishopbriggs, but was actually boarding at Falkirk High. The individual was challenged by ScotRail Revenue Protection Officers, and on a historic review of their account, the passenger was found to be falsifying their journey on a number of occasions. The individual was issued with a bill for more than £1,500.
Phil Campbell, ScotRail Customer Operations Director, said: “Tackling ticket fraud has always been a priority for ScotRail. It’s a small minority of passengers who deliberately try to avoid paying the proper fare but it’s honest, fare-paying passengers who bear the burden of lost investment in Scotland’s Railway.
“Our goal is to ensure that our genuine customers can travel without disruption, knowing that the fare system is fair and enforced. We are fully committed to ensuring that everyone who uses our services pays their fair share. These measures not only protect public money but also allow us to reinvest in improvements for the benefit of all passengers.”
Don’t miss the latest news from around Scotland and beyond – Sign up to our daily newsletter here.