FARE-dodgers and fraudsters who con millions of pounds from the public transport system were targeted in a crackdown on some of Bolton’s busiest bus routes yesterday.

Inspectors and the police hauled people off the buses and issued them with £50 penalty fares after they were caught without valid tickets.

People who travel fraudulently cost bus companies millions of pounds a year— leading to higher fares for honest passengers.

Police joined forces with inspectors from the Greater Manchester Passenger Transport Executive and First yesterday as they checked more than 2,100 tickets on more than 120 buses all over Bolton.

Inspectors look for a range of different tricks.

These include older teenagers buying juvenile tickets, out of date tickets and people staying on the bus past the stop they have paid for.

Most seriously, police look for fraudsters who print professional-looking counterfeit tickets and sell them to passengers at knock-down prices.

Anyone caught fare-dodging can be charged the “standard fare” of £50, while those suspected of more serious offences are arrested.

There were no arrests yesterday, and just 10 fines issued.

Police said they often find that shoplifters and people carrying drugs are among the most likely to try to avoid paying.

One young passenger was once caught using a fake ticket that he had made himself using a craft knife.

Among those caught yesterday was a man trying to get on the bus from Bury Road, Breightmet, to Rochdale with a £17.90 weekly ticket that was out of date and had no accompanying photographic ID.

He was ordered to pay £50 and ended up walking home.

Sgt John Boyce said: “From a police point of view, there is a public reassurance message here.

“We know that across Greater Manchester fare evasion runs into millions of pounds, and at the higher end some of that is forged travel tickets.

“These are professionally produced by criminals and sold at a discount price.

“Members of the public might think they’re getting a bargain, but they’re not when they get caught.”

GMPTE inspector Graeme McKie said: “We’ve heard all the excuses before, but there is no excuse for travelling without a valid ticket.”