Strathclyde Partnership for Transport (SPT) joined forces with public transport operators, British Transport Police and Strathclyde Police in an exercise as part of a wider campaign to clamp down on ticket fraud.Strathclyde Partnership for Transport (SPT) joined forces with public transport operators, British Transport Police and Strathclyde Police in an exercise as part of a wider campaign to clamp down on ticket fraud.
Bus operators Arriva, First Glasgow, McGill’s and Stagecoach took part in the joint ticket inspection exercise, with rail operators First ScotRail and SPT Subway.
The exercise was planned with operators and police to identify passengers travelling with counterfeit, expired or inappropriate tickets. Inspection teams gave no advance warnings. Over 8,000 tickets were inspected during the recent checks. The findings indicate ticket fraud is increasing and SPT and other operators are reviewing their ticket products to enhance security features.
As a result of this exercise British Transport Police (BTP) have made eight arrests related to counterfeit travel cards and reports will be sent to the Procurator Fiscal.
SPT Chair Jonathan Findlay said: "It’s madness to risk getting a criminal record for the price of a bus, rail, Subway or ZoneCard ticket. We are determined to stamp out this type of fraud, because the money it costs the transport industry could instead be spent on improving the public transport network and keeping fares down.
"There is still a hard core of public transport users who persist in acts of fare evasion. They need to think twice about the consequences of this behaviour and understand there is every chance they will be caught."
Detective Inspector John Harrington of British Transport Police said: "This joint operation demonstrated the high level of commitment among partner agencies to combat fraudulent travel on the public transport network. Ultimately, it is the travelling public who are the ones who pay in the long term for those that commit fraud. What people don’t realise is that getting caught can have a major bearing on their future employability."
Chief Inspector George Nedley of Strathclyde Police Prevention and Interventions Unit added: "Strathclyde Police fully supports and endorses the work of SPT to stop ticket fraud on public transport. It is absolutely unacceptable for the vast majority of hard working commuters to have to subsidise the people who buy these forged tickets.
He added: "I have no doubt that some of them are unaware that by doing this, they may be supporting serious and organised criminal gangs who use the money for drug dealing, prostitution and human trafficking. They are putting themselves at risk by breaking the law and risking the lives and wellbeing of others whose lives are blighted by the scourge of organised crime groups."
