TFL URGED TO UPGRADE STAFF ROUTINE- RMT’s Eddie Dempsey says TfL should end lone working and increase staffing 

Transport for London(TfL) has been urged to reconsider its approach to staffing Tube stations because of concerns over fare dodgers.

The London Assembly Transport Committee wrote to the transport body calling on it to reassess its “routine” use of lone working without mitigation to improve the “reality and perception” of staff safety in the context of fare evasion.

The committee heard evidence from the Rail, Maritime and Transport union (RMT) that staff working on their own at stations feel less confident to intervene when they see a fare dodger because of the fear of physical violence.

London Assembly member Elly Baker, stated that TfL must ensure that more is done to ensure gatelines are in operation and staffed at all stations in order to reduce the amount of times that staff are required to work on their own on the transport network.

TfL figures reportedly estimates that 3.5% of passengers across its network evade fares, costing it £130 million annually.A TfL spokesperson said TfL welcomes the transport committee’s recommendations and would respond to the committee in due course.