24,000 handed fines for dodging bus fares in West Midlands

Almost one million passengers travelling with National Express West Midlands during 2013 had their ticket checked by an inspector as the bus company clamps down on fare dodgers.

The company, which runs eight out of 10 services, recently doubled the size of its inspector team as part of a zero tolerance policy against people who refuse to pay their fares or disrupt other passengers' journeys.

More than 50,000 buses were checked last year.

As well as identifying fare dodgers the inspectors were also on the look out for anti-social and nuisance behaviour on the buses, such as playing loud music and yobs putting their feet on seats.

The company issued more than 24,000 on the spot fines of £35 to people refusing to pay the correct fare.

Inspectors are often accompanied by police. The company funds two of the full-time officers in the Safer Travel Police team, which patrols known hotspots and reacts to tip-offs from the public, as well as travelling undercover. The team also uses mobile CCTV cameras and monitors bus cameras.

Peter Coates, managing director of National Express West Midlands, said: "We take fare dodging and anti-social behaviour on our buses very seriously.

"We know that our customers don't want people putting their feet on seats, playing loud music and refusing to pay their fares, and that is why we have doubled the number of our inspectors. We take a zero tolerance policy against people who refuse to pay their way and those disrupting law abiding passengers' journeys."

"As a result of the action we have taken anti social behaviour has fallen by 61per cent in the last five years and we will work hard to ensure that this fall continues."

Figures released in September showed that crime on the West Midland bus network has fallen by 67 per cent over the last six years but surveys show that 17 per cent of passengers still feel uncomfortable travelling because of the anti social behaviour of others.

National Express has CCTV on buses and all their drivers are constantly linked to a central control by radio on which they can immediately summon help.

In November, a transport policing plan was revealed for the region, which would see extra uniformed police officers drafted in to help tackle crime on buses, trains and trams.

The Safer Travel Partnership – a taskforce dedicated to beating crime on the transport network – has put anti-social behaviour as its key priority.

A special team to track down graffiti artists will also form part of the three-year plan.