'Bust bus' to tackle transport crime

Fare-dodgers in London are to be dragged off trains and Tubes and interrogated on special "bust buses" for more serious crimes, as part of a new drive by the Metropolitan Police and transport officials to apprehend serious criminals who are also involved in petty offences such as fare evasion.

The bust buses – special mobile police stations – will be introduced in the New Year, giving police the power to run on-the-spot background checks on fare-dodgers and take their fingerprints.

Last year, 25,000 people were caught without the right ticket, according to figures from London Underground.

Police believe that criminals who avoid paying fares on Tubes and trains are often also involved in far more serious offences, such as robbery and assault.

In one recent case, revenue inspectors confronted a man who became aggressive. They handed the man over to police who searched him and found he was carrying a 9mm Glock handgun.

In the pilot scheme to be launched in April 2003, ticket inspectors will round up suspected offenders and hand them over to special police teams.