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METRO inspectors dressed as Santa netted just a handful of fare dodgers when they swooped upon a Metro station today (THURS) to highlight the perils of festive fare evasion. And, Nexus bosses were delighted to say, 98 out of every 100 people stopped had a valid ticket. The Santas held a 90-minute amnesty (from 10am) in the spirit of Christmas, but were delighted to collar just a few fare evaders. Working with a team of 12 uniformed ticket examiners, the Metro Santas checked a total of 3,102 Metro passengers arriving at Newcastle’s Monument Station. In all, five Metro ticket examiners dressed as Father Christmas. They were delighted to find just 66 people without a valid ticket or pass. The figure represented just 2.1 percent of passengers checked. The barrier blitz exercise was part of Metro operator Nexus’ ongoing battle against those who would defraud the light rail network. But, in the spirit of the season, people caught without a ticket were sent to Santa to receive a warning notice. Metro passengers caught without a ticket are normally issued with a £10 penalty fare notice but, for one day only, they were not. But the exercise was not all about those who do not pay their way on the Metro, and 1,000 Metro passengers were given the chance to win an All-Zones Annual MetroSaver pass worth £525. The first 1,000 ticket holders were given numbered leaflets, giving them automatic entry into the prize draw for the pass, which will be drawn next week. The fare blitz was hailed a success by Nexus chiefs, who say the low percentage of passengers without a ticket shows their anti-fraud measures are working. Andy Bairstow, Metro's Commercial Director, said: "Today has been a great success and the staff have worked hard to get the message across that fraud on Metro won't be tolerated. I'm happy to say that the message seems to be getting through as the vast majority of people we talked to today had a ticket."
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