PLAIN clothes ticket inspectors have beeen introduced on public transport across London, in a crackdown on fare dodgers.

Transport for London (TfL) is stepping up the pressure on people who avoid paying their fares, and who cost TfL around £75m in lost revenue last year alone.

The 500 inspectors will join the 2,500 police officers funded by TfL and PCSOs trying to spot those avoiding paying for their journey .

People who get caught fare dodging can face a fine of up to £1,000 together with a criminal record and the success rate for prosecutions in 2010 was 99.8 per cent.

London Mayor, Boris Johnson described fare dodgers as “a parasitic scourge “ and said everyone who used public transport was expected to pay their way.

Chairwoman of London Travelwatch, Sharon Grant said her organisation fully supoorted the crackdown.

She added: “Fare evasion affects everyone in the capital and honest passengers should not have to shoulder the burden for those who do not pay.”