I need some help child ticket

[neillanplass]

I am a university student and on 22 January 2026 I travelled using a child ticket because it was cheaper. I was stopped by revenue protection staff and initially refused to provide my details, although I eventually did provide them.


I was not issued with a penalty fare or any other ticket at the time. Instead, I was told that I was being reported. I offered to pay the difference in fare, but was told it was too late and that the matter had been escalated.


Since then I have received no letters or correspondence at all.


Today (6 June 2026), a British Transport Police officer visited my address to confirm that I live there. The officer said a letter would be sent and indicated that court was the most likely outcome.


This was a single incident and I have not been stopped before or since.


My questions are:

1. Is it normal for there to be a delay of over 4 months before any contact is made?
2. Is a BTP address verification visit common in these circumstances?
3. If prosecution is being considered, is it still possible to request an out-of-court settlement once I receive the letter?

Any insight would be appreciated.

 

[jfollows]

1 - yes
3 - probably
Remember that they have a deadline of 22 July before when they have to initiate a prosecution, so they won’t want to miss this date. If you agree to settle before then, on receipt of their letter, you should be fine. If you delay (and I know that currently the delay isn’t down to you) they’ll be forced to prosecute.

 

[AlterEgo]

A visit from the BTP is not normal and would cause me concern. Did you identify yourself to the officer or let them in? Did you answer any questions?

Which company stopped you?

 

[neillanplass]

A visit from the BTP is not normal and would cause me concern. Did you identify yourself to the officer or let them in? Did you answer any questions?

Which company stopped you?

I tried to play off that I’m 16 to avoid the fine and gave false details until the British transport police arrested me.
And then I gave them my real details .
And yes I identified my self and let them in and they just told me they’re confirming my address before sending a letter.

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 6 Jun 2026 ==

A visit from the BTP is not normal and would cause me concern. Did you identify yourself to the officer or let them in? Did you answer any questions?

Which company stopped you?

My bad for the double message.

But I never got taken down for a fine. It was escalated the police officers said they are reporting me.

 

[AlterEgo]

So there's a lot more to the story than was first apparent. You were arrested. For what offence? Were you taken to the police station? Did you have any legal representation?

As you are dealing directly with the police you had better get a solicitor.

 

[neillanplass]

So there's a lot more to the story than was first apparent. You were arrested. For what offence? Were you taken to the police station? Did you have any legal representation?

As you are dealing directly with the police you had better get a solicitor.

I was stopped for a child’s ticket
No offence just to confirm my real details ,the police laughed and said let him go they just took me there to confirm my real details. And released instantly.
The British transport police was not happy that they didn’t do anything and reported me for the child’s ticket .

 

[neillanplass]

I was stopped for a child’s ticket
No offence just to confirm my real details ,the police laughed and said let him go they just took me there to confirm my real details. And released instantly.
The British transport police was not happy that they didn’t do anything and reported me for the child’s ticket .

And it’s not the police coming to my house.
It was British transport police
to confirm my address before sending a letter

 

[Elecman]

So there's a lot more to the story than was first apparent. You were arrested. For what offence? Were you taken to the police station? Did you have any legal representation?

As you are dealing directly with the police you had better get a solicitor.

I agree it most unusual for BTP to follow up with a visit to home unless you have recieved mail from the train company and ignored it so they requested BTP to verify your addresss before issuing a Court Summons and they are looking at more than a byelaw offence. When you reused to give your name and address to the railway staff did you use offensive /threatening language to them ?

 

[Fawkes Cat]

And it’s not the police coming to my house.
It was British transport police
to confirm my address before sending a letter

It may be important for you to understand that the British Transport Police are just as much the police as (say) the Metropolitan Police - they have the same powers and being arrested by the BTP is just as serious as being arrested by the Met.

Wait for the letter - but it sounds to be that your case is being dealt with by the police rather than the railway company. That's potentially more serious, and it may very well be that as @AlterEgo says, you may need the help of a solicitor.

 

[neillanplass]

I got a update the reason they came to my house was to confirm my address as a letter was sent to a different address.

Will I still have a chance of settling all this and what will the amount I have to pay be ? I’m a broke uni student

 

[AlterEgo]

Just to note the police don't settle out of court for money - unlike train companies. So never ever ever communicate with them and suggest anything like what we normally suggest when dealing with train companies directly else you risk attempting to bribe them.

 

[Mattplans]

What is the train company that stopped you and at which station were you stopped? @neillanplass

 

[jamiearmley]

Failure to provide your name and address on request to an authorised officer of the railway is a bylaw offence under the railway bylaws. The staff members who stopped you for your child ticket were authorised officers of the railway.

It is a further offence to give false details.

If the police had to attend to obtain your correct details, then you have committed the above offence.

This then would be in addition to your travelling on a child ticket when you are in fact an adult.

Based on what I have seen during the course of my duties, persons who refuse to provide their details which then results in police attendance tend to be dealt with absolutely in accordance with the relevant laws, by-laws and regulations with no discretion given. I have always understood this approach is taken due to the persons behaviour taking up police time, which justifiably would be better spent elsewhere.

Perhaps this is why you are receiving attention from the British transport police.

 

[Undiscovered]

Failure to provide your name and address on request to an authorised officer of the railway is a bylaw offence under the railway bylaws. The staff members who stopped you for your child ticket were authorised officers of the railway.

It is a further offence to give false details.

If the police had to attend to obtain your correct details, then you have committed the above offence.

This then would be in addition to your travelling on a child ticket when you are in fact an adult.

Based on what I have seen during the course of my duties, persons who refuse to provide their details which then results in police attendance tend to be dealt with absolutely in accordance with the relevant laws, by-laws and regulations with no discretion given. I have always understood this approach is taken due to the persons behaviour taking up police time, which justifiably would be better spent elsewhere.

Perhaps this is why you are receiving attention from the British transport police.

Second this.

BTP are very thin on the ground, and they tend to resent wasting their time on simple fare evaders.
It's a slam dunk, easy prosecution. Gives the BTP good stats and is minimal outlay on time and resources.

Edit: to OP:
If you were arrested, and had BTP visit your house, you may need to speak to your University/Governing/Professional body, as it may be a requirement of continued study, that you notify them of any arrest/interaction with Police.

You should speak to your Student Union for confidential advice on this, and I would strongly suggest you do so now, as universities are about to break up, and assistance may be thin on the ground, in the summer months.

 

[flitwickbeds]

Slightly confused on when the arrest was.

Were you arrested at the initial stop on 22 January, or when the BTP visited your house on 6 June? Or both?

 

[WesternLancer]

We could still do with knowing where this happened and what train operator was involved.

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 6 Jun 2026 ==

You should speak to your Student Union for confidential advice on this, and I would strongly suggest you do so now, as universities are about to break up, and assistance may be thin on the ground, in the summer months.

Very good advice. The students union May have access to free or low cost legal advice for the op via an arrangement they might have with a legal firm for things like this.

If the op can’t afford the £600+ that going to one of the rail fare evasion specialist solicitors that get mentioned on here then that might be a good other option for legal advice.
I’d be going to see them on Monday morning unless it clashed with an exam!

I suppose it is possible the police call was just to verify an address, but that wouldn’t be clear until any letter being sent is received by the op and the contents become clear.

The letter might for example be court papers.

OP should update us as things develop if they’d like advice and guidance on what best to do if they have to end up handling this themselves.
But a visit to a student union advice centre would be a good use of time imho.

 

[neillanplass]

I hope I can settle out of court but yeah I’ll update you guys when the letter comes
I won’t bother contacting my university this is just a one time fare evasion situation ?

 

[neillanplass]

Waterloo station
From Bournemouth

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 7 Jun 2026 ==

I hope I can settle out of court but yeah I’ll update you guys when the letter comes
I won’t bother contacting my university this is just a one time fare evasion situation ?

They should let me settle it or plead guilty and pay ?
And if so does anyone know the rough costs

 

[neillanplass]

Slightly confused on when the arrest was.

Were you arrested at the initial stop on 22 January, or when the BTP visited your house on 6 June? Or both?

I was stopped and arrested on 22 January
I did have a ticket but a child one.

And they visited didn’t arrest just said it’s about a letter and left. Just had to confirm the address to send the letter to

 

[WesternLancer]

Waterloo station
From Bournemouth

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 7 Jun 2026 ==


They should let me settle it

SWR do this in many cases but it’s not a given that they will.

or plead guilty and pay ?

That happens if they send it to court

And if so does anyone know the rough costs

If court there is a court fine formula for the offence. Plus costs plus victim surcharge
Plus criminal record that you would have to declare for a period of time.

That formula is (from another thread a while back):

---------------------------------------------------------
The Magistrates Courts will typically deal with an offender convicted under byelaw 18 by way of a "band A fine".

The amount of a "band A fine" is:

• 50% of one week's wages, with a maximum fine of £1,000, if the offender has a job and has declared their income on the court paperwork;
• £60, if the offender is a student, or on benefits; or
• £220, if the offender has not engaged with the court case or provided the necessary information.

The fine would then be adjusted downwards if the offender had pleaded guilty, with a reduction of one-third for a plea at the first opportunity, tapering down to one-tenth for a plea at the start of a trial.

There are also three more amounts to pay:

• A victim surcharge, which is 40% of the fine
• Compensation for the unpaid fare
• The prosecution costs

------------------------------------------------------------

Since I suspect you have bought child tickets for other travel and if you’ve done that on line leaving a digital evidence trail they will want paying for all of them too. They can get evidence from all ticket retailers going back for years.
From what we see it’s standard for SWR to do this.

They typically charge that at the peak Anytime Fare.

This is £75.20 for that journey plus an ‘admin fee’ of maybe about £100. It will add up if they detect multiple occasions of buying child tickets.

They don’t usually accept payment by instalments in out of court settlements.

I hope I can settle out of court but yeah I’ll update you guys when the letter comes
I won’t bother contacting my university this is just a one time fare evasion situation ?

Contacting your student union for free confidential advice now is different from advising your university about a conviction (which hasn’t happened yet), but maybe a requirement of your conditions of attending the institution if it does, or the course especially if you are doing something like medicine or law course.
You should be finding this out.

 

[AlterEgo]

SWR do this in many cases but it’s not a given that they will.

That happens if they send it to court

If court there is a court fine formula for the offence. Plus costs plus victim surcharge
Plus criminal record that you would have to declare for a period of time.

Since I suspect you have bought child tickets for other travel and if you’ve done that on line leaving a digital evidence trail they will want paying for all of them too. They can get evidence from all ticket retailers going back for years.
From what we see it’s standard for SWR to do this.

They typically charge that at the peak Anytime Fare.

This is £75.20 for that journey plus an ‘admin fee’ of maybe about £100. It will add up if they detect multiple occasions of buying child tickets.

They don’t usually accept payment by instalments in out of court settlements.


Contacting your student union for free confidential advice now is different from advising your university about a conviction (which hasn’t happened yet), but maybe a requirement of your conditions of attending the institution if it does, or the course especially if you are doing something like medicine or law course.
You should be finding this out.

All this advice is premature.

The OP is dealing with the police, not SWR. They were arrested for the offence, and the police have come back to verify the OP's whereabouts so (what we presume is) court paperwork can be sent.

The BTP are not sending a police officer out on a call (a very precious resource) so a train company can send a letter asking for money.

The advice is: wait for the letter, if it is a summons or SJPN, then the OP can either handle it themselves or instruct a solicitor. They will need to pay for any legal representation and will not be able to use the court solicitor if charged under the Bylaws.

Regrettably the OP has found themselves well into FAFO territory and are most of the way between FA and FO on that scale.

 

[WesternLancer]

All this advice is premature.

The OP is dealing with the police, not SWR. They were arrested for the offence, and the police have come back to verify the OP's whereabouts so (what we presume is) court paperwork can be sent.

The BTP are not sending a police officer out on a call (a very precious resource) so a train company can send a letter asking for money.

The advice is: wait for the letter, if it is a summons or SJPN, then the OP can either handle it themselves or instruct a solicitor. They will need to pay for any legal representation and will not be able to use the court solicitor if charged under the Bylaws.

Regrettably the OP has found themselves well into FAFO territory and are most of the way between FA and FO on that scale.

OP presumably can recall if they were arrested for failing to provide their name and address
Or
Fare evasion
Or both of those.

OPs version of events sounds like police called round for a friendly chat…

 

[John R]

OP presumably can recall if they were arrested for failing to provide their name and address
Or
Fare evasion
Or both of those.

OPs version of events sounds like police called round for a friendly chat…

Post 4 says they were arrested at Waterloo, so not really a friendly chat at that point. Sounds like the home visit was somewhat less dramatic though.

 

[WesternLancer]

Post 4 says they were arrested at Waterloo, so not really a friendly chat at that point. Sounds like the home visit was somewhat less dramatic though.

Yes. Agreed.
But I fear it’s possibly lulled the op into a sense that what is to come may not be too much hassle….

Hopefully we can help them as things develop.
I’d certainly be taking this all v seriously.

 

[saismee]

Yes. Agreed.
But I fear it’s possibly lulled the op into a sense that what is to come may not be too much hassle….

Hopefully we can help them as things develop.
I’d certainly be taking this all v seriously.

It isn't necessarily much hassle depending on the outcome OP wants from this.

 

[WesternLancer]

It isn't necessarily much hassle depending on the outcome OP wants from this.

Sounds like that outcome is perhaps to spend the lowest sum achievable

 

[whirlybird]

I hope I can settle out of court but yeah I’ll update you guys when the letter comes
I won’t bother contacting my university this is just a one time fare evasion situation ?

Here's what one university has to say about this:

"Students who are subject to a police investigation or prosecution are required to inform the University of any investigation; if they are charged with a criminal offence; when police or court involvement has come to an end; and the outcome of the investigation or prosecution. Failure to do so may be treated as misconduct and may be dealt with under these Regulations." (source: https://www.bristol.ac.uk/media-lib...and-regs/Student-Disciplinary-Regulations.pdf)

Failure to declare such things to a university/employer/regulator etc when you are required to do so is frequently treated more seriously than the offence itself.

You should so some research on your university's regulations; they may well be different. Don't just rely on AI -- it may pick up on older versions of the regulations than the current ones that apply to you; or it may hallucinate the rules. Ask your student union with help on this if required.

 

[Elecman]

the OP hasn’t actually confirmed why the BTP were involved originally, was it solely to obtain his name and address or had there been some form of verbal altercation to the staff trying to obtain his details. I’m not sure if the OP was actually formally arrested or just detained until thier details were obtained

 

[WesternLancer]

Here's what one university has to say about this:

"Students who are subject to a police investigation or prosecution are required to inform the University of any investigation; if they are charged with a criminal offence; when police or court involvement has come to an end; and the outcome of the investigation or prosecution. Failure to do so may be treated as misconduct and may be dealt with under these Regulations." (source: https://www.bristol.ac.uk/media-lib...and-regs/Student-Disciplinary-Regulations.pdf)

Failure to declare such things to a university/employer/regulator etc when you are required to do so is frequently treated more seriously than the offence itself.

You should so some research on your university's regulations; they may well be different. Don't just rely on AI -- it may pick up on older versions of the regulations than the current ones that apply to you; or it may hallucinate the rules. Ask your student union with help on this if required.

Yeah. I reckon if you told the university about this sort of offence they would not be very concerned about it.
If you distress them and they then found out about it, and if they found other stuff maybe coincidentally etc that they consider a disciplinary matter it could become a lot more hassle for a student.

But the point is that students union advisors will know exactly this stuff. No reason at all not to ask them. Free service. Confidential. Experts in this stuff.

 

[furlong]

If the police really are dealing with a minor matter like this, their procedures may well lead to an offer of a caution.