Headteachers urged to help tackle 'persistent, calculated fare evasion' by students

Northern has issued a plea to headteachers to help tackle 'persistent, calculated fare evasion' by students.

As the end of the academic year draws near, the train operator says it’s time for headteachers to work with them to combat the issue.

It follows a catalogue of incidents since September 2023, including students travelling without tickets, ticket fraud and anti-social behaviour as well as verbal and physical assaults on conductors and station staff.

Behaviour at some stations has been so bad that Northern has had to request support from British Transport Police to maintain order.

Mark Powles, commercial and customer director at Northern, said: “With secondary school students, fare evasion incidents tend to occur on relatively short journeys between rural and suburban stations which are not barrier-controlled.

“That, combined with the limited time conductors have to carry out ticket checks, emboldens students to travel without a ticket.”

However, in recent months, Northern says incidents have had an "increasingly anti-social element" to them, with reports of verbal and physical assaults on train crew and station staff.

Powles added: “We’ve seen students climb on station canopies and assault station staff in order to avoid ticket checks - it’s completely unacceptable.

“That’s why we’re calling on headteachers to help us identify repeat offenders.”

The train operator is already working with the headteacher of Honley High School in West Yorkshire and says a joined-up approach really makes a difference.

Teachers have been deployed to the local station to help identify students and ensure station staff are able to carry out ticket checks without a risk to their safety.

James Meads, assistant headteacher of Honley High School, said: “As part of the school’s on-going work with Northern we have deployed members of teaching staff to the local railway station to help identify students that have attempted to fare evade on their commute to school.

“As well as raising the topic of fare evasion in school assemblies we have also contacted the parents of students to make them aware - and we will continue to support Northern on this issue when the new academic year gets underway in September.”