Plain-clothes revenue protection bods - is this still happening?

[facebender]

For the first time I heard an announcement about plain-clothes officers today. Sounded quite exciting. Is this still a thing? I know they used to frequent the tube but thought that had all stopped now after Covid

 

[matt_world2004]

For the first time I heard an announcement about plain-clothes officers today. Sounded quite exciting. Is this still a thing? I know they used to frequent the tube but thought that had all stopped now after Covid

Still see them on the tube. Except at gatelines if you have a high value pass expect to be stopped occasionally by a "yoof" in a tracksuit asking to see your photocard.

 

[Facing Back]

Still see them on the tube. Except at gatelines if you have a high value pass expect to be stopped occasionally by a "yoof" in a tracksuit asking to see your photocard.

I assume that they offer ID...

 

[matt_world2004]

I assume that they offer ID...

Yes. They usually already have it on them on a lanyard or they pull it out while approaching you.

 

[randyrippley]

Still see them on the tube. Except at gatelines if you have a high value pass expect to be stopped occasionally by a "yoof" in a tracksuit asking to see your photocard.

I'd probably treat a yoof in a tracksuit demanding my card as a mugger, and react accordingly

 

[Facing Back]

I'd probably treat a yoof in a tracksuit demanding my card as a mugger, and react accordingly

Not if they approach professionally and offer the ID as described above.

 

[matt_world2004]

I'd probably treat a yoof in a tracksuit demanding my card as a mugger, and react accordingly

Nice bit of stereotyping there.

 

[Facing Back]

Nice bit of stereotyping there.

Last time I was badly mugged was by 3 middle aged men in suits

 

[randyrippley]

Nice bit of stereotyping there.

Stereotyping tends to keep you safe

 

[matt_world2004]

From experience they don't even take the card off you. They look at the photocard element and then send you on your way. And they leave the gateline to deal with contactless and standard oyster pay as you go entries

 

[AlterEgo]

Stereotyping tends to keep you safe

That’s a line that should go down well with the magistrates!

 

[SussexSeagull]

One and only time I was asked for my ticket was on a morning train with a load of kids onboard and I thought it odd that a man not in a rail uniform was asking children for tickets, not actually being aware plain clothed ticket inspectors were a thing.

Once he got to me I asked him who he was so he produced his ID. To be fair he was perfectly nice about it but it did look a bit strange initially.

 

[Llanigraham]

Last time I was in London, last November, two of them got onto the Circle Line Tube I was on, loudly said "All passes please" then walked through scanning Oyster and seemingly Bank Cards. Both in jeans, fleece jackets and wearing a rucksac. Their ID was openly showing around their necks.

 

[3rd rail land]

Last time I was in London, last November, two of them got onto the Circle Line Tube I was on, loudly said "All passes please" then walked through scanning Oyster and seemingly Bank Cards. Both in jeans, fleece jackets and wearing a rucksac. Their ID was openly showing around their necks.

Presumably they kept their ID hidden until the doors closed and it was time to start doing their checks? Otherwise it seems pointless to be in plain clothes.

 

[Jimini]

Presumably they kept their ID hidden until the doors closed and it was time to start doing their checks? Otherwise it seems pointless to be in plain clothes.

That's how they do it on the tube aye, been that way for years.

 

[BJames]

To this day, I have never been checked on the tube. I have been checked on London Overground (although that is a grand total of one time since 2020). On the gatelines however, my pass gets checked every time at Liverpool Street Overground - although they're not in plain clothes. I have never seen a plain clothes ticket inspector.

My dad tells me he has not been checked in 20 years of commuting across London but almost always travelled in peak times. I was always aware they did it as one of the TV docs showed plain clothes on Northern line so I have half been expecting a check at some point, especially as I usually travel off peak.

 

[Jimini]

To this day, I have never been checked on the tube. I have been checked on London Overground (although that is a grand total of one time since 2020). On the gatelines however, my pass gets checked every time at Liverpool Street Overground - although they're not in plain clothes. I have never seen a plain clothes ticket inspector.

My dad tells me he has not been checked in 20 years of commuting across London but almost always travelled in peak times. I was always aware they did it as one of the TV docs showed plain clothes on Northern line so I have half been expecting a check at some point, especially as I usually travel off peak.

In all my (42) years, I've only bumped into them once, so yep, pretty rare. Plenty of checks on the DLR for obvious reasons, however.

 

[CE142]

You could always refuse to show them your ticket as they aren't in Uniform and you suspect that their ID is fake...

 

[Facing Back]

You could always refuse to show them your ticket as they aren't in Uniform and you suspect that their ID is fake...

You could and I'm interested to see what happens next. I would hope that it involves the police.

In all my (42) years, I've only bumped into them once, so yep, pretty rare. Plenty of checks on the DLR for obvious reasons, however.

I have been checked loads of times on the DLR but always by people in uniform

 

[Jimini]

I have been checked loads of times on the DLR but always by people in uniform

Yep that's a fair point -- the DLR 'police' are generally in uniform.

 

[Facing Back]

Yep that's a fair point -- the DLR 'police' are generally in uniform.

I don't mind the other lot - lets be sensible and get evasion down.

I used the DLR every day in the early 90s, we had a big training facility there so i had a travelcard. 15 years on I didn't and I failed many times to check in and out with my lobster card. That was me being a bit **** but I was given a tut-tut. To me that worked well.

 

[bramling]

To this day, I have never been checked on the tube. I have been checked on London Overground (although that is a grand total of one time since 2020). On the gatelines however, my pass gets checked every time at Liverpool Street Overground - although they're not in plain clothes. I have never seen a plain clothes ticket inspector.

My dad tells me he has not been checked in 20 years of commuting across London but almost always travelled in peak times. I was always aware they did it as one of the TV docs showed plain clothes on Northern line so I have half been expecting a check at some point, especially as I usually travel off peak.

LU’s revenue protection is very targeted and intelligence led, but it certainly happens. As others have said, misuse of passes is a particular focus.

I still don’t get what the point is of the recent “Enforcement & Compliance” teams though. These were the ones checking on mask use during Covid, and since they can be seen standing around in groups at stations doing nothing apart from looking very bored. I’ve seen people double through gates right in front of their noses and they haven’t batted an eyelid, so if they can’t even do something about that then one really has to ask the question as to what their purpose is.

 

[Facing Back]

LU’s revenue protection is very targeted and intelligence led, but it certainly happens. As others have said, misuse of passes is a particular focus.

I still don’t get what the point is of the recent “Enforcement & Compliance” teams though. These were the ones checking on mask use during Covid, and since they can be seen standing around in groups at stations doing nothing apart from looking very bored. I’ve seen people double through gates right in front of their noses and they haven’t batted an eyelid, so if they can’t even do something about that then one really has to ask the question as to what their purpose is.

sorry - what is a pass? A season ticket or similar?

I still don’t get what the point is of the recent “Enforcement & Compliance” teams though. These were the ones checking on mask use during Covid, and since they can be seen standing around in groups at stations doing nothing apart from looking very bored. I’ve seen people double through gates right in front of their noses and they haven’t batted an eyelid, so if they can’t even do something about that then one really has to ask the question as to what their purpose is.

Ah! maybe they we be part of the multiskilling programme

 

[BJames]

sorry - what is a pass? A season ticket or similar?


Ah! maybe they we be part of the multiskilling programme

I think in this instance this is referring to high value passes e.g. Freedom Passes/Nominee/Staff Passes or similar - these are particularly valuable if misused, granting effectively free travel across TfL networks (and some areas of National Rail)

In all my (42) years, I've only bumped into them once, so yep, pretty rare. Plenty of checks on the DLR for obvious reasons, however.

Interesting - and indeed, DLR is very understandable. Overground as well to a lesser extent but there are pairs of stations on my local line that you can comfortably travel between without interacting with barriers or staff for 99% of the time, so when the inspectors do come down there can often be a lot of people to pick up. Again though, I have only ever seen them in uniform on this line.

LU’s revenue protection is very targeted and intelligence led, but it certainly happens. As others have said, misuse of passes is a particular focus.

I still don’t get what the point is of the recent “Enforcement & Compliance” teams though. These were the ones checking on mask use during Covid, and since they can be seen standing around in groups at stations doing nothing apart from looking very bored. I’ve seen people double through gates right in front of their noses and they haven’t batted an eyelid, so if they can’t even do something about that then one really has to ask the question as to what their purpose is.

This is a fair point and probably a more effective use of their resources keeping the teams on the gatelines or indeed chasing after the more prolific, seasoned offenders.

 

[Facing Back]

I think in this instance this is referring to high value passes e.g. Freedom Passes/Nominee/Staff Passes or similar - these are particularly valuable if misused, granting effectively free travel across TfL networks (and some areas of National Rail)

Thanks a lot. What are freedom passes/nominee/staff passes?

 

[LowLevel]

My TOC certainly has both plain clothes inspectors and police who travel on trains, the latter mostly on planned operations.

 

[Man_with_beard]

Oh plain clothed inspectors now eh? This is just a "store detective" approach similar to what we were told as kids to deter you from shoplifting.

 

[Jamiescott1]

Maybe they should have a cardboard cut out of an RPI in the train window like some shops do with cardboard cut outs of police

 

[matt_world2004]

Thanks a lot. What are freedom passes/nominee/staff passes?

So if your using a standard oyster card/contactless card. The revenue aren't going to be focused on that because the gateline can check those. And people going through the gateline incorrectly draw attention to themselves.

What they are focused on is season tickets on oyster, freedom/60+ passes(The free travel scheme for disabled and older people) Staff and nominee passes(The free travel scheme for staff and their partners) and zip cards (Free/Reduced travel scheme for young people) People misusing these passes by using the pass designed for someone else can cost the company thousands.

They set the gatelines to flash a orange light when going through on these passes .that's how they know who to stop

 

[185]

Used to love fancy dress days - was a certainty you were straight to the pub after work.. but someone at that company messed it up one December by wearing a beard and something red. His argument was "well, you wanted us to blend in with the passengers?!". Well, he did... but it didn't look good getting a fine off Mr Claus.