Hunt for Elizabeth line passenger who 'spat in worker's face and fled station after dodging train fare'

Police hunt for Elizabeth line passenger who 'spat in worker's face' after dodging train fareThe incident occurred at Ilford Station after the woman was challenged for passing through the ticket barriers without payingPolice have released images of a woman in connection with the assaultBTP

A passenger on the Elizabeth line spat in a member of staff’s face after being confronted for not paying her fare, according to the British Transport Police (BTP).

BTP have released images of a woman in connection with the assault, which occurred at Ilford Station on May 22.

A woman was challenged by the member of staff shortly before 5pm, having passed through the ticket barriers without paying.

She responded by spitting in the TfL employee’s face before fleeing the station.

Police have asked anyone with information to come forwardBTP

Anyone who recognises the woman pictured has been urged to contact BTP using reference 530 of May 22, or anonymously to Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.

The incident comes after TfL revealed last month that the number of passengers handed £100 penalty fares across the network had surged over the past year.

Over 69,000 penalty fares were issued in the year to March, up 9 per cent from the previous 12 months.

TfL has claimed that a crackdown on fare dodging had seen more than 21,00 cases result in reports for possible prosecution, up 19 per cent year-on-year.

It is estimated that 400,000 journeys are evaded across the network on a normal weekday, costing TfL an estimated £200 million a year in income.