Scores more prosecutions brought by three rail firms for alleged fare evasion have been quashed. Northern Rail, TransPennine Express (TPE) and Great Western Railway (GWR) brought dozens of prosecutions against passengers using the controversial single justice procedure (SJP) despite not being permitted to do so.
More than 500 prosecutions were declared null and void by Chief Magistrate Paul Goldspring during a three-minute hearing at Westminster Magistrates’ Court on Wednesday. Mr Goldspring ruled on August 15 last year that the cases should be declared “void” and any fines paid should be “reconciled”.
Thousands of these cases have already been quashed and Mr Goldspring said this should be the final hearing to deal with such prosecutions. More than 350 Northern cases, 180 TPE cases and 36 GWR cases were declared a nullity at the hearing, meaning it is as if the proceedings never existed.
“I plan to say what I have said previously in accordance with my ruling on August 15 that these cases should not have been brought,” Mr Goldspring told the court. “Any reconciliation in relation to fines is between the Courts and Tribunals Service and the prosecuting railway companies.”.
A separate argument in relation to penalty fare appeals is set to be brought to court soon, the Chief Magistrate said. The SJP was set up in 2015 to allow magistrates to decide on minor offences, such as using a television without a licence or driving without car insurance, without defendants going to court.
