FIRST Eastern Counties Buses has launched a new initiative to eradicate fare dodging and the fraudulent use of travel passes on its buses.It will see a team of inspectors travel throughout the area to ensure every passenger has paid the correct fare for their journey.

FIRST Eastern Counties Buses has launched a new initiative to eradicate fare dodging and the fraudulent use of travel passes on its buses.

It will see a team of inspectors travel throughout the area to ensure every passenger has paid the correct fare for their journey.

Any passenger found not to have the correct ticket for the journey get a �50 surcharge.

Alan Pilbeam, managing director of First Eastern Counties Buses, said: “Each year there are in excess of 25 million passenger journeys on our routes and the vast majority of those passengers travelling do so honestly. However, we believe it is not right that dishonest travellers are, in effect, subsidised by those who pay the correct fare. It is imperative we safeguard ourselves against fraud to ensure the best deal for our passengers.”