NEW checks are being introduced on buses in the North-East to prevent the misuse of concessionary passes meant for older and disabled people.

Smart ticket machines on buses operating in Northumberland, Tyne and Wear, County Durham and the Tees Valley have been programmed to indicate immediately whether a concessionary bus pass has been cancelled by the local transport authority which issued it.

Where a pass is not valid the customer may in future be asked to pay the appropriate fare and the pass may be confiscated by the driver, following an initial amnesty period this autumn.

A joint publicity campaign led by the North East Combined Authority and Tees Valley Combined Authority has been launched to advise passengers of the change, introduced on behalf of local transport authorities which issue bus passes, and in partnership with bus companies.

More than a million journeys every week are made in the North-East by passengers with concessionary bus passes, costing local transport authorities tens of millions each year in payments to bus companies.

The new checks will reduce potential misuse and fraud while protecting passengers who are entitled to and benefit from concessionary travel.

David Budd, the Chair of the Tees Valley Combined Authority, said: “Misuse of concessionary bus passes is not a big problem but the number of journeys made, and the cost of this to local councils, makes it important we have robust checks in place.”

“For the vast majority of people this will make no difference at all.

"There will be plenty of publicity on buses to advise someone how to check they are using the right pass if they are in any doubt, and local councils are ready to answer any questions.”