A London bus passenger was confronted by a ticket inspector for allegedly using her teenage daughter's free travel pass. The incident occurred on a packed bus in Bethnal Green, where the adult passenger was found to be using a 16+ Zip Oyster photocard. These passes grant free travel to individuals aged 16 and 17 on Transport for London (TfL) services.
Revenue protector officer Dija identified the passenger, who was wearing a niqab, as appearing to be in her 40s or 50s. When Dija attempted to issue a penalty fare, the passenger alighted the bus. At the Pollard Row bus stop, the passenger appeared to suddenly be unable to comprehend Dija's instructions or inquiries.
Dija requested the woman's identification and personal details, explaining that the pass did not belong to her. The passenger offered unintelligible excuses and stated she needed to leave. When Dija followed her off the bus to prevent further escalation, she continued to insist on seeing identification. Despite repeated requests, the passenger claimed not to understand and attempted to make a phone call.
Dija's colleague, Megan, attempted to assist by offering to translate into Urdu, as the passenger had previously spoken what sounded like a foreign language. However, the passenger again stated she did not understand. Megan noted that the woman had spoken English earlier when approached by Dija.
The passenger eventually walked away from the inspectors, who confiscated the 16+ pass. The TfL prosecution team has been informed and will investigate the matter. Dija commented that the passenger appeared to be feigning ignorance, but that the key evidence, the pass itself, had been secured. If the pass is registered to the woman's daughter and proven to be misused, the case could become a criminal matter.
According to TfL figures from June, the fare evasion rate for buses in 2025/26 was 2.6 percent, a decrease from the average 3.5 percent across the entire network. Inspection teams examined 3.3 million bus passengers in the most recent year, an increase of 400,000 from the previous year. The fare evasion rate for the Underground was 5 percent, the Docklands Light Railway was 4.0 percent, the Overground and Elizabeth line were both 3.3 percent, and Trams had a rate of 7.3 percent.