Bus driver who was sacked for catching thief reveals tactics on dealing with fare dodgers

Brooke Davies | Senior News reporter Published July 29, 2026 10:09am Updated July 29, 2026 10:10am A fare dodger is tackled as he runs through the gates (Picture: Channel 5) A bus driver who was sacked for fighting a thief has revealed how he coped with the fare dodgers he had to deal with every day. Mark Hehir, who drove a London bus for two years, warned it is not worth fighting with those trying to board for free. This is despite fare dodgers costing Transport for London £165 million a year, which almost cancels out the £168 million saved by the network after raising the prices fpr those who bother to pay. Mark was hailed a hero after he was sacked in January for chasing after a thief who snatched a passenger’s necklace from around her neck in 2024. During the scuffle, the then-60-year-