800 fare dodgers caught in massive ticket inspection action

More than 16,000 people were involved on Wednesday in a major action against fare-dodging on the Brussels public transport system, with 800 people caught without a ticket during the eight-hour-long operation.

In addition to the fare-dodgers – some 5% of the total – police and inspectors also caught seven people wanted for questioning by police, 12 were arrested for legal reasons and 37 for administrative reasons; 31 of the latter group proved to be in the country illegally. Police also made 13 seizures involving illegal weapons or drugs.

The so-called Full Integrated Police Action (FIPA) involved 161 officers of the federal police and 104 from security teams from the Stib, De Lijn, TEC and Securail. The operation, the 73rd of its kind to take place in Brussels, was aimed at tackling crime in the public transport system.

• Elsewhere, 170 people have been caught out at pre-Metro station Albert in the last two weeks, since the installation of turnstile gates at the exit to the station. The gates allow exit only to those with a valid ticket. Others have to buy a ticket by SMS, costing €6. The Stib plans to introduce the system in all stations from January.