False information given

[Johny721]

Hello,

I have a friend who has given false information to train officer however instantly regretted it, is there any advice you can give to prevent prosecution. This was not for a fine.

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 12 Jul 2023 ==

Hello,

I have a friend who has given false information to train officer however instantly regretted it, is there any advice you can give to prevent prosecution. This was not for a fine.

He false everything.

 

[AlterEgo]

What were the details given for? What sort of ticket irregularity? Was the ticket bought online? Was it withdrawn by the staff? Was it an e-ticket?

How "false" were the details? Entirely fictional? Someone else's true identity? His real identity but small details changed?

 

[Johny721]

Entirely fictional. Irregularities report. No ticket

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 12 Jul 2023 ==

What were the details given for? What sort of ticket irregularity? Was the ticket bought online? Was it withdrawn by the staff? Was it an e-ticket?

How "false" were the details? Entirely fictional? Someone else's true identity? His real identity but small details changed?

I don’t know all the details but he panicked in the moment and gave a made up name and address, he was given a irregularity report.He thought he had a ticket purchased but when he got home and checked his phone it turned out he never. He understands he’s in the wrong but wants the best way to deal with this.

 

[Fawkes Cat]

It seems to me that on this occasion the OP’s friend will have got away with it. However, they need to remember that railway officers are human and do remember people. What’s more, the same officers tend to work in the same area. So if the OP’s friend is caught fare dodging again by the same officer, there’s a very good chance that they will be remembered, and the officer will be much more thorough in getting their real details next time.

The easy way for the OP’s friend to avoid problems in future is to make sure that they always buy the right train ticket.

 

[Johny721]

It seems to me that on this occasion the OP’s friend will have got away with it. However, they need to remember that railway officers are human and do remember people. What’s more, the same officers tend to work in the same area. So if the OP’s friend is caught fare dodging again by the same officer, there’s a very good chance that they will be remembered, and the officer will be much more thorough in getting their real details next time.

The easy way for the OP’s friend to avoid problems in future is to make sure that they always buy the right train ticket.

What do you mean, he got away, I heard that they have ways to track you. Since it’s only a small fair, will they bother?

 

[Fawkes Cat]

What do you mean, he got away, I heard that they have ways to track you. Since it’s only a small fair, will they bother?

On the basis of what you have told us, your friend did not show a ticket on his phone. Neither did he give any accurate details of who he was or where he lived. If those are the facts then realistically the railway will not be in a position to track him.

If your friend did show some sort of ticket on his phone (in post #3 you told us ‘.He thought he had a ticket purchased but when he got home and checked his phone it turned out he never.’) then that will provide a way for the railway to track him.

I don’t think that your friend should take comfort from it only being a small fare: the railway have been known to prosecute over a fare which was wrong by 10p!

 

[Johny721]

On the basis of what you have told us, your friend did not show a ticket on his phone. Neither did he give any accurate details of who he was or where he lived. If those are the facts then realistically the railway will not be in a position to track him.

If your friend did show some sort of ticket on his phone (in post #3 you told us ‘.He thought he had a ticket purchased but when he got home and checked his phone it turned out he never.’) then that will provide a way for the railway to track him.

I don’t think that your friend should take comfort from it only being a small fare: the railway have been known to prosecute over a fare which was wrong by 10p!

Would it be a good idea for him to go to the address and get any letters that were sent ?

 

[Fawkes Cat]

Would it be a good idea for him to go to the address and get any letters that were sent ?

It rather depends on whether he gave a completely made up address, or something like his aunt's or a friend's. If the address was completely made up, then the Royal Mail probably won't be able to deliver the letter: if it has gone to an acquaintance's home, then they may very well
- open the letter, and
- realise that this is probably your friend using fake details, and
- let the railway know who they should really be talking to

At this point, your friend will not have got away with it after all, and the railway will also be able to take him to court on the further charge of giving false details.

So if there is any chance, however remote, of the railway tracing your friend, then on what you have now told us I think your friend should get hold of the letter, and then contact the railway to let them know their real name and address.

 

[AlterEgo]

Would it be a good idea for him to go to the address and get any letters that were sent ?

How would he go to an entirely fictional address? How would he get hold of any letters sent to another address anyway?

 

[Hadders]

Northern have been known to prosecute people over 10p.

There is always a risk that the person will be tracked down and it could then be very problematic to resolve. As said above it really depends on how false the details given were. If the person genuinely regrets giving false details then they would contact Northerns Debt Recovery and Prosecutions Unit and put the record straight.

 

[Johny721]

How would he go to an entirely fictional address? How would he get hold of any letters sent to another address anyway?

It’s a real address but made up on the spot

Northern have been known to prosecute people over 10p.

There is always a risk that the person will be tracked down and it could then be very problematic to resolve. As said above it really depends on how false the details given were. If the person genuinely regrets giving false details then they would contact Northerns Debt Recovery and Prosecutions Unit and put the record straight.

its transpenine express. Iv heard of people who have admitted to wrong doing and got charged anyway since it’s a confession

 

[jon0844]

its transpenine express. Iv heard of people who have admitted to wrong doing and got charged anyway since it’s a confession

I guess it's down to the attitude test. Admitting fault and being apologetic is different to admitting fault, while swearing and threatening that staff should be doing something more important etc.

 

[Hadders]

It’s a real address but made up on the spot

its transpenine express. Iv heard of people who have admitted to wrong doing and got charged anyway since it’s a confession

Was a completely ficticious name given, or the name of a real person?

The danger with saying nothing is that someone potentially ends up having to sort out a load of hassle.

 

[AlterEgo]

It’s a real address but made up on the spot

So how would he go to a real address and get letters which are in the name of a fictional person which isn’t him? Or is the person real as well?