§ The Earl of Clancartyasked Her Majesty's Government:
Whether they will define the terms "fare evader" and "misuse" as they occur within the following text from London Transport Buses' current advertising campaign. "Last year, 7,800 fare evaders were caught and successfully prosecuted. If you misuse your Bus Pass, Travelcard or ticket on London Transport Buses you risk possible prosecution and a fine of up to £1,000." [HL3727]
§ Lord WhittyThese are operational matters for London Regional Transport. We understand that, in the context of the advertising campaign, the 7,800 fare evaders referred to (figures for the year April 1997 to March 1998) were successful prosecutions of individuals where there was evidence that the irregularity detected was an intentional act. Misuse of a Bus Pass, Travelcard or ticket is the intentional act of using the Bus Pass, Travelcard or ticket in a manner for which it was not intended.
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§ The Earl of Clancartyasked Her Majesty's Government:
How many people were successfully prosecuted by London Transport Buses for fare evasion in 1998; and on what grounds and under what legislation were these prosecutions brought. [HL3728]
§ Lord WhittyThese are operational matters for London Regional Transport. We understand that during the year 1 April 1998 to 31 March 1999, 10,061 people were successfully prosecuted for offences relating to fare evasion. The majority of these cases were summary prosecutions for contravention of the Public Service Vehicles (Conduct of Drivers, Inspectors, Conductors and Passenger) Regulations 1990. A small number of the prosecutions were brought under other legislation such as the Theft Act of 1978.
§ The Earl of Clancartyasked Her Majesty's Government:
Whether there is a significant difference between the criteria used by London Transport Buses to impose penalty fares on London bus passengers and the criteria used to bring criminal proceedings against passengers for fare evasion. [HL3726]
§ Lord WhittyThese are operational matters for London Regional Transport. We understand that the most recent research by London Transport Buses estimates that it loses approximately £20 million a year (3 per cent, of revenue), due to fare evasion and other ticket irregularities. Surveys show that currently around one bus passenger in 25 travels with some form of ticket irregularity during his/her journey.
London Transport Buses is expected to take all reasonable and practical steps to ensure that it receives all revenues due for the service it provides and it has a range of measures to assist it in this area.
A passenger is liable to pay a penalty fare if he or she travels without a ticket or pass that is valid for the whole of his or her journey. Prosecutions are brought where there is evidence that the irregularity detected was an intentional act of fare evasion.
§ The Earl of Clancartyasked Her Majesty's Government:
How many failed prosecutions by London Transport Buses for fare evasion (including all cases where compensation and/or cash were not awarded to the plaintiff) were brought in 1998; and why these prosecutions failed. [HL3729]
§ Lord WhittyThese are operational matters for London Regional Transport. We understand that during the year 1 April to 31 March 1999, 79 prosecutions were dismissed or no evidence was offered in court.
London Transport Buses defines a prosecution as successful when the defendant is found guilty, regardless of whether or not costs and/or compensation are awarded to the prosecutor.
The number of successful prosecution cases where compensation and/or costs were not awarded to the prosecutor is small, but details of these cases are not 206WA held in an easily accessible format. The information cannot be compiled without accessing all 10,061 successful prosecution cases, which would result in a disproportionate cost for London Transport Biases.