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Metro fare dodge crackdown

126 metro fare dodgers were caught last weekend, as Metro operator Nexus increases ticket checks the run up to Christmas.

The frequency of inspections will increase on trains and at stations in Newcastle and Sunderland on Friday and Saturday nights. All those who are caught will be charged with the standard £20 penalty fare and failure to pay within 21 days will result in a court appearance, a fine of up to £500 and a criminal record.

The crackdown is part of a major anti-fraud strategy which includes checks around football matches and other events and regular inspections across the system. The campaign has seen fraudulent journeys cut by a million in a one year period, down from 3.1 million in the year to March 2005 to 2.1 million in the year to March 2006.

This was posted in Bdaily's Members' News section by Ruth Mitchell .