Transport for London (TfL) has intensified its crackdown on fare evasion, reporting sharp increases in ticket inspections, penalty fares, and prosecutions during the 2025/26 financial year. The initiative forms part of TfL’s long-term strategy to reduce fare evasion to below 1.5% by 2030/31.
Between April 2025 and March 2026, TfL inspected 6.9 million contactless payment cards—an increase of more than 50% compared with the previous year—and issued over 69,000 penalty fares. The agency also generated £5.4 million in revenue inspection charges and secured more than 14,400 fare evasion convictions.
According to TfL, fare evasion affects all passengers because lost revenue reduces the funds available to operate, maintain, and improve the transport network. By reducing fare evasion, the authority aims to ensure that investment in services is supported by those who use them.
Beyond the financial impact, TfL has highlighted the safety risks associated with fare evasion. Visible forms of fare evasion, such as gate-pushing, can create an intimidating environment for passengers and staff and are often linked to violence and aggression towards frontline workers. According to TfL, fare and revenue disputes are associated with around 40% of reported workplace violence and aggression incidents involving frontline staff. Last year, more than 4,400 individuals were reported for possible prosecution for gate-pushing offences.
To strengthen enforcement and improve passenger safety, TfL plans to add 50 officers to its Transport Support and Enforcement team, including 36 officers dedicated to night-time operations. The agency is also using data-driven investigations and advanced technology to identify repeat offenders and patterns of fare evasion across the network.
London’s fare evasion rate currently stands at 3.5%, down from 3.9% in 2022/23. TfL believes that continued enforcement and targeted investigations will support its goal of reducing fare evasion while protecting revenue and improving safety across the network.
To read the full TfL press release, click here: https://tfl.gov.uk/info-for/media/press-releases/2026/june/tfl-s-crackdown-on-fare-evasion-sees-increased-ticket-and-payment-checks-and-more-penalty-fares
