£10 fare dodge fine doubled

On-the-spot fines for fare dodgers doubled to £20 today.

The penalty for people without a valid ticket on the bus, Tube or Docklands Light Railway has been increased by Mayor Ken Livingstone who hopes to send out the message that "freeloaders will not be tolerated".

But critics argue that not enough is being done to target persistent offenders.

Liberal Democrat London Assembly Transport spokesman Geoff Pope said: "If you don't pay your congestion charge penalty on time, it increases to £120.

"We need the same for the new £20 penalty."

More than £60million is lost to fare evasion in the capital each year.

Mr Livingstone said only a small number of passengers set out to avoid paying but those who do "are cheating honest travellers".

Every year 50,000 fines are issued on the bus network with 40,000 penalties issued to fare dodgers on the London Underground.

Transport for London chiefs are also increasing the number of ticket inspectors patrolling the bus and tram network from 240 to 290. The Tube has about 240 inspectors supported by 750 British Transport Police officers.