Police appeal over passengers jumping wall to avoid paying fares at Hereford

[chris from nailsea]

From the British Transport Police press release:

APPEAL FOR INFORMATION AFTER PASSENGERS JUMP WALL TO AVOID PAYING FARES – HEREFORD

British Transport Police (BTP) officers are appealing for the public’s help to identify a man and a woman they would like to speak to in connection with an incident at Hereford railway station.



Officers have today released a CCTV image of the couple they believe will have information which can assist the investigation.

PC Luke Davis, investigating officer, said the incident took place at around 9.30am on Monday 14 November 2011.

“Station staff at Hereford reported that a man and a woman, who had boarded a train at Worcester Foregate Street rail station, had no tickets when they arrived at Hereford shortly before 9.30am on Monday 14 November,” PC Davis said.

“They became abusive towards members of staff at the station before avoiding the ticket barriers and jumping over a wall and leaving the station without paying for their fares.

“Enquiries are ongoing and, after viewing CCTV images from the station, I would like to identify and speak to the people in this photograph as I believe they will be able to assist the investigation.

"Fare evasion is a serious issue and we will do everything possible to ensure that those intent on defrauding the railway are brought to justice.

“We will continue to work closely with our partners in the rail industry to ensure that honest, fare-paying customers are not subsidising the rail travel of fare evaders.”

Anyone with information is asked to contact British Transport Police on Freefone 0800 40 50 40, quoting incident reference B6/WWA of 21/12/2011. Alternatively, you can call Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.

[RichardB]

Nice clear CCTV images.

[Andrew1939 (formerly CLPG)]

When, if ever, are barriers to be installed at Worcester Foregate Street? Had there been barriers there, that couple would have had more difficulty in boarding the train in the first place. Barriers at Foregate Street would cut down on the significant number of people travelling from Cotswold Line stations to Worcester, although such travellers might well choose to alight at Shrub Hill if that station continued to have no barriers. Enforcement staff seem to rarely grace Worcester.

[Btline]

Indeed, in fact revenue protection does not seem to be a priority for the TOCs serving Worcester. People from Malvern, Droitwich (even Kidderminster) and the Vale of Evesham get a free ride into town.

I would imagine that passenger numbers would soar if we knew how many people actually used the service. Barriers would make sure people pay their way and then perhaps we can get 2tph to New Street, 1tph to Bristol, 2tph to Evesham and a faster 1tph service to London.

The demand is there, just collect the fares.