More than 28,000 rail fare evasion prosecutions quashed

More than 28,000 prosecutions brought by 2 obstruction firms for alleged fare evasion person been quashed.

Northern Rail brought 28,631 prosecutions against passengers betwixt August 2020 and May 2024 and TransPennine Express brought 41 successful January 2024, some utilizing the azygous justness process (SJP).

On Thursday they were declared unlawful arsenic the operators were not permitted to usage the SJP.

Chief Magistrate Paul Goldspring announced his ruling successful a two-minute proceeding astatine Westminster Magistrates' Court.

SJP was introduced successful 2015 for insignificant offences successful magistrates' courts, specified arsenic utilizing a tv without a licence oregon driving without car insurance, without defendants going to court.

It aimed to let firms to fast-track prosecutions and prosecute them down closed doors.

Rail companies were permitted to usage the process successful 2016 to privately prosecute fare evaders, but galore person been brought nether the Regulation of Railways Act 1889, which is not allowed nether the procedure.

Northern Rail covers ample parts of bluish England, portion TransPennine Express operates successful the North of England and successful Scotland.

In August, Mr Goldspring ruled that six "test cases" of prosecutions for alleged fare evasion brought by bid companies should beryllium declared a "nullity", adding that others would beryllium dealt with successful the aforesaid way.

Judge Goldspring said past the nonstop fig of SJP prosecutions was unknown, but was astir apt "over 74,000".

Avanti West Coast, Greater Anglia, Great Western Railway, Arriva Rail Northern, Merseyrail and C2C were besides progressive and further hearings volition instrumentality place, the Courts and Tribunals Service said.

The section said those affected by the ruling were prosecuted aft 2018, with the "vast majority" of cases prosecuted from 2020, nether either conception 5(1) oregon conception 5(3) of the Regulation of Railways Act 1889.

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Anyone affected should hold to beryllium contacted straight by the Courts and Tribunals Service astir their case, including if they person paid a fiscal penalty.

Both firms apologised and said they were "committed to ensuring that each our customers are treated fairly, which means ensuring each passengers who committee our trains person a valid ticket".