London police use plainclothes officers to target repeat fare dodgers

Transport for London and the British Transport Police launched Operation Vector to catch people who repeatedly push through ticket barriers without paying.

This joint operation uses plainclothes officers to monitor the transport network in London. During the first month of the pilot, officers stopped 467 people and made 24 arrests. Officers also issued 156 penalty fares and reported 175 people for potential prosecution.

The team targets individuals who avoid paying fares, which the transport body estimates costs about £190m a year. Officers are stationed at various points, including past the barriers, to track and stop people who force their way through. The police use behavioral detection techniques to identify suspects based on how they approach gates and look around. Some officers reported that these actions led to the seizure of drugs and weapons during the first month.

Transport for London says the operation aims to reduce the fare evasion rate from 3.5% to a target of 1.5% by 2030-31.