Anti-fraud operation sees 14 arrests – Stratford

A multi-agency operation to crack down on counterfeit tickets across the capital saw 13 arrests yesterday morning (Wednesday, 5 June).

Officers from British Transport Police (BTP) and the Metropolitan Police Service (MPS) Safer Transport Command, joined colleagues from Greater Anglia and Transport for London (TfL) at Stratford station to check National Rail and TfL passengers’ tickets passing through the station.

The operation, which ran from 6.30am until 9.30am, saw 14 arrests by British Transport Police, and Safer Transport Command officers who were outside, at Stratford bus station, monitoring tickets used on local bus services.

BTP’s PC Karl Jones led the operation. He said: “Over the past few months, train operating companies have noticed an increase in counterfeit tickets being used across the rail network in the capital.

“In order to tackle this, Revenue Protection Inspectors from Greater Anglia and TfL, supported by BTP and Metropolitan Police officers, were at the station, checking all passengers’ tickets and travel cards.”

During the operation, 11 people were arrested for using counterfeit tickets, one person was arrested for travel fraud, whilst another was arrested for immigration offences. Another man was arrested for being wanted on warrant for a previous offence.

Siwan Hayward, Acting Director of Community Safety, Enforcement and Policing, TfL said: “We take all forms of fraud very seriously, the positive results of this operation clearly demonstrate how we are working with our policing partners to tackle fraud across the transport network.

“We take robust action against anyone found using, distributing or manufacturing counterfeit tickets, with our Revenue Protection Inspectors working closely with the MPS, BTP and train operating companies.”

A Greater Anglia spokesperson said: “We are working closely with the police and TfL to reduce fraudulent travel, for the benefit of the vast majority of our customers, who do pay their fares.”

PC Jones added: “We will continue to work closely with rail companies to ensure that those who seek to make financial gain in this way are brought to justice.”