Hi there,
I’m looking for any sort of guidance or help with my letter.
Should I post the letter or send it by email to the Southeastern prosecutions team? I’m not sure what’s the right thing to do.
Back in May, I had a ticket from Waterloo East to London Bridge, but the barriers were blocked. I scanned my ticket with an officer, who then pulled me aside and mentioned the body camera and started writing notes. I had avoided paying the full fare from my local station (in Zone 8) to London Bridge. They said CCTV, my Trainline account and body camera footage would be checked. I kept changing my story while she was speaking to me because I was panicked and embarrassed. At one point, she didn’t believe me when I said I lived in Zone 8. That week, I had been evading fares due to financial pressure and thought it would be an easy way to save a bit of money, which was stupid. She also asked to see my Trainline account and I said no.
This is my first offence and I’ve felt awful ever since. I’ve been paying the full fare every day since, and before that week I had been paying around £20 a day for nearly 10 months. According to my account, I evaded fares for about six days, morning and evening.
I’m really worried and scared this will go further. I want to write a letter but I’m unsure how best to approach it, especially since the body cam footage may show how flustered and inconsistent I was. I know what I did was wrong and I would never do it again.
Here’s what I’ve drafted so far. Would really appreciate any advice.
Dear Southeastern Prosecutions Team,
I am writing in response to your letter regarding the incident that occurred in May 2025. I would like to express my sincere and unreserved apology for travelling without a valid ticket, and for not being fully clear when first discussing the matter with your staff.
I was rushed and panicked at the time, and I handled the situation poorly out of nervousness and fear. I deeply regret my actions and fully understand that fare evasion is unacceptable. There is no excuse, and I take full responsibility for what happened.
This is the first time I have ever been involved in an incident of this nature, and I am extremely remorseful. It has been a serious wake-up call, and I am committed to ensuring that this does not happen again. I have been paying the full fare since.
With that in mind, I wondered if it might be possible to settle this matter without court action. I am prepared to pay the cost of the fares avoided, along with any administrative costs incurred in dealing with the matter.
Thank you for taking the time to consider my response. I fully appreciate the importance of ensuring fairness for all passengers, and I hope that my remorse and willingness to make amends will be taken into account.
Yours sincerely,
[Your Name]
Sorry this is a bit long! just really nervous and trying to explain everything properly. Appreciate any advice.
I’m looking for any sort of guidance or help with my letter.
Should I post the letter or send it by email to the Southeastern prosecutions team? I’m not sure what’s the right thing to do.
Back in May, I had a ticket from Waterloo East to London Bridge, but the barriers were blocked. I scanned my ticket with an officer, who then pulled me aside and mentioned the body camera and started writing notes. I had avoided paying the full fare from my local station (in Zone 8) to London Bridge. They said CCTV, my Trainline account and body camera footage would be checked. I kept changing my story while she was speaking to me because I was panicked and embarrassed. At one point, she didn’t believe me when I said I lived in Zone 8. That week, I had been evading fares due to financial pressure and thought it would be an easy way to save a bit of money, which was stupid. She also asked to see my Trainline account and I said no.
This is my first offence and I’ve felt awful ever since. I’ve been paying the full fare every day since, and before that week I had been paying around £20 a day for nearly 10 months. According to my account, I evaded fares for about six days, morning and evening.
I’m really worried and scared this will go further. I want to write a letter but I’m unsure how best to approach it, especially since the body cam footage may show how flustered and inconsistent I was. I know what I did was wrong and I would never do it again.
Here’s what I’ve drafted so far. Would really appreciate any advice.
Dear Southeastern Prosecutions Team,
I am writing in response to your letter regarding the incident that occurred in May 2025. I would like to express my sincere and unreserved apology for travelling without a valid ticket, and for not being fully clear when first discussing the matter with your staff.
I was rushed and panicked at the time, and I handled the situation poorly out of nervousness and fear. I deeply regret my actions and fully understand that fare evasion is unacceptable. There is no excuse, and I take full responsibility for what happened.
This is the first time I have ever been involved in an incident of this nature, and I am extremely remorseful. It has been a serious wake-up call, and I am committed to ensuring that this does not happen again. I have been paying the full fare since.
With that in mind, I wondered if it might be possible to settle this matter without court action. I am prepared to pay the cost of the fares avoided, along with any administrative costs incurred in dealing with the matter.
Thank you for taking the time to consider my response. I fully appreciate the importance of ensuring fairness for all passengers, and I hope that my remorse and willingness to make amends will be taken into account.
Yours sincerely,
[Your Name]
Sorry this is a bit long! just really nervous and trying to explain everything properly. Appreciate any advice.