Many people contact us having received a letter from a train company or their legal representatives headed “Notice of Intention to Prosecute” commonly referred to as an NITP. If this has happened to you it is important to understand what this letter means and what steps you should take immediately.
What is an NITP? An NITP is a formal letter sent by a train operating company or a third party investigations firm acting on their behalf notifying you that they intend to bring criminal proceedings against you for fare evasion. It is not a court document. It is a pre-prosecution warning. Common senders include Transport Investigations Limited (TIL), GTR Revenue Protection acting for Govia Thameslink Railway, South Western Railway’s revenue protection team and TfL Prosecutions.
Does receiving an NITP mean I will definitely be prosecuted? Not necessarily. An NITP is an invitation for you to respond and your response matters enormously. Operators send these letters partly to give you an opportunity to engage and many cases are resolved without prosecution if the recipient responds promptly and constructively with appropriate legal assistance.
What should I do if I receive an NITP? Do not ignore it. Operators take silence as confirmation that you have no explanation or mitigation to offer which makes prosecution more likely not less. You should note the response deadline carefully, avoid writing directly to the operator without legal advice as anything you say can be used against you and contact a specialist fare evasion solicitor as soon as possible.
Received an NITP? Instruct Samir Moftah Today. Samir Moftah at Manak Solicitors has a strong track record of negotiating with train operators at the NITP stage often securing out of court settlements that protect clients’ criminal records entirely. This is the most important stage to instruct a solicitor and early action delivers the best results. Contact Samir today for a free 15 minute initial discussion where he will set out exactly how he can help with your case. 01689 870769 07731 868916 litigation@manaksolicitors.co.uk
