Freedom of Information Requests have discovered that you are employing 500 enforcement officers who refused tube entry to just 30 people within a month for failing to wear a mask, despite non-mask wearing being widespread across the TfL network. Do you think this provides value for money for Londoners or an effective fight against Covid, particularly whilst you talk about the decimation of tube and bus services?

Transport for London’s (TfL) enforcement officers have worked tirelessly on the front line throughout the pandemic. Their responsibilities include tackling fare evasion, enforcement of road regulations, byelaws and conditions of carriage, and compliance with taxi and private hire regulations. They are specially trained and take a 4Es approach - engaging, educating and encouraging compliance with requirements, and then enforcement – and have good results.

The Government’s removal of national requirements for face coverings on 19 July 2021 limited the action TfL could take in tackling non-compliance, including no longer issuing Fixed Penalty Notices (FPN) and pursuing prosecutions. I consistently called for these to be re-introduced and welcomed the Government’s announcement to this effect on 30 November 2021.

Since the national requirement were re-introduced on 30 November until Tuesday 14 December, TfL’s enforcement officers and its policing partners have stopped 21,602 people from getting on its public transport services until they put on a face covering. Most complied by getting their face covering from their bag or pocket and putting it on correctly, or purchasing one from a shop. Enforcement officers have also prevented 1,038 passengers from boarding services, 491 have been directed to leave services, and 823 have been reported for an FPN. FPNs are not issued on the spot. They are issued by TfL’s Prosecution Team once the evidence and personal information has been verified. As of 15 December 2021, 536 FPNs had been issued and the remaining reports are being processed.

TfL would like to invite you to accompany their enforcement officers as they patrol the network, so you can experience directly the value they provide and would be happy to arrange this according to your schedule.