What is a Single Justice Procedure Notice (SJPN) from TfL?

A Single Justice Procedure Notice is the start of a criminal prosecution, not an ordinary penalty fare. Transport for London uses it to prosecute fare evasion and travelling without a valid ticket. Under the Single Justice Procedure, created by the Criminal Justice and Courts Act 2015 and section 16A of the Magistrates' Courts Act 1980, a single magistrate with a legal adviser decides the case on the papers, without a court hearing. The notice contains the charge, the evidence (such as an inspector's statement), a response form, and a deadline — usually 21 days. TfL often prosecutes under its railway byelaws (strict liability) or, for more serious cases, under section 5 of the Regulation of Railways Act 1889.

What happens if I ignore a TfL Single Justice Procedure Notice?

Do not ignore it. If you do not respond within the time limit (usually 21 days), the case is decided in your absence and you will very likely be convicted, fined, and ordered to pay costs and a victim surcharge, with no chance to put forward mitigation or to seek an out-of-court settlement. The fine can be based on an assumed income if you do not provide your income details. More importantly, you will have a criminal conviction that could have been avoided, which can affect immigration applications. Always respond, and ideally seek to settle out of court before the case is decided.

How long do I have to respond to an SJPN?

You usually have 21 days from the date on the notice to respond, and this deadline is strict and generally cannot be extended. You should act immediately: read the charge, decide whether to seek an out-of-court settlement, and get advice if needed. If you have moved house and the notice went to an old address, you may not have received it — in that case, if you are later convicted in your absence, you may be able to make a statutory declaration under section 14 of the Magistrates' Courts Act 1980 within 21 days of finding out.

Can I settle a TfL fare evasion case out of court and avoid a criminal record?

Often yes. For the majority of TfL fare evasion cases an out-of-court settlement (sometimes called a revenue settlement) is available. You contact TfL's prosecutions or revenue enforcement team in writing, before the case is decided, explain your situation, and offer to pay the outstanding fare plus TfL's administrative and legal costs in exchange for TfL withdrawing the prosecution. A successful settlement means no conviction and no criminal record, which usually means nothing to declare in a visa or citizenship application. Settlement is at TfL's discretion and is less likely for repeat or deliberate (section 5(3)) cases, so a well-drafted request with supporting background helps.

How does a TfL fare evasion conviction affect my visa, ILR or citizenship?

A fare evasion conviction creates a criminal record and is assessed against the good character requirement when you apply for indefinite leave to remain or British citizenship. Under Part 9 of the Immigration Rules, a conviction — especially one involving dishonesty, such as section 5(3) of the Regulation of Railways Act 1889 (intent to avoid a fare) — is a serious suitability concern and can lead to refusal. By contrast, an out-of-court settlement produces no conviction, so there is generally nothing to disclose. This is why avoiding a conviction, usually through settlement, is so important for people on a route to settlement or naturalisation.

I was convicted without knowing because the notice went to my old address — what can I do?

If you were convicted in your absence under the Single Justice Procedure and genuinely did not know about the case, you can make a statutory declaration under section 14 of the Magistrates' Courts Act 1980 stating that you were unaware of the proceedings. If accepted, the conviction and fine are usually set aside and the case is reset, so you can respond properly or seek a settlement. You should normally make the declaration within 21 days of becoming aware of the case, and explain any delay if it is later. The declaration must be sworn before a magistrate, solicitor or notary, so it is best done with legal help.

Should I just plead guilty online to get it over with?

Be careful — pleading guilty results in a criminal conviction, which is exactly what you usually want to avoid. Before pleading guilty, you should consider whether an out-of-court settlement is available, because settlement avoids a conviction altogether. If you have a genuine defence — for example you did have a valid ticket, the gate malfunctioned, or it is a case of mistaken identity — you can plead not guilty and the case goes to a normal hearing. If you do decide to plead guilty, you can also submit mitigation or ask to attend. Given the immigration consequences, it is wise to get advice before responding rather than pleading guilty straight away.

Were some TfL and rail fare evasion convictions overturned?

Yes. In 2024 and 2025 a large number of rail and transport fare evasion convictions obtained through the Single Justice Procedure were quashed because the procedure had been misused — for example prosecuting under provisions that were not eligible to be dealt with by the Single Justice Procedure. This means that whether the correct procedure and charge were used can itself be a ground of challenge. If you have already been convicted and suspect the charge or procedure was wrong, do not assume nothing can be done — seek legal advice promptly about setting aside or appealing the conviction.

Received a TfL Single Justice Procedure Notice (SJPN)? — 21-Day Deadline, Response Options, Out-of-Court Settlement, and Avoiding a Criminal Record

📌 Key Takeaways

A Single Justice Procedure Notice (SJPN) is a criminal prosecution document. TfL (Transport for London) commonly uses it to prosecute fare evasion / travelling without a valid ticket. It was introduced by the Criminal Justice and Courts Act 2015 (inserting Magistrates’ Courts Act 1980 s.16A) and is decided on the papers by a single magistrate with a legal adviser — no court hearing is required.

⚠️ Do not ignore it: if you fail to respond within the deadline, the case will be decided in your absence — you are very likely to be convicted, fined, and left with a criminal record, with no opportunity to put forward any mitigation.

Deadline: you normally have 21 days from the date on the notice to respond. The deadline is strict and generally cannot be extended. Act immediately.

There are three response options: ① plead guilty — decided on the papers (no hearing); ② plead guilty but submit mitigation / ask to attend court; ③ plead not guilty — the case transfers to a full hearing.

⭐ The most important step — seek an out-of-court settlement: for most TfL fare evasion cases, you can proactively contact TfL before the case is decided and request an out-of-court settlement / withdrawal of the prosecution (usually by paying the unpaid fare plus TfL’s administrative and legal costs). A successful settlement = no conviction, no criminal record — this is usually the best outcome.

Why avoiding a conviction matters: a fare evasion conviction creates a criminal record and triggers the good character assessment when applying for ILR (indefinite leave to remain) / citizenship under Immigration Rules Part 9. In particular, Regulation of Railways Act 1889 s.5(3) (deliberate fare evasion) is a more serious offence. An out-of-court settlement produces no conviction and therefore generally need not be declared in an immigration application.

If you were convicted in your absence without ever receiving the notice: you may be able to make a statutory declaration under Magistrates’ Courts Act 1980 s.14 — within 21 days of finding out — to set aside the conviction and restart the process.

2024–2025 context: a large number of rail and transport fare evasion SJP convictions have been quashed by the courts because the procedure was misused (for example, prosecuting charges ineligible for the SJP under the relevant legislation). Whether the correct procedure was used matters — if in doubt, seek legal advice promptly.

Jurisdiction: the SJP and the procedures in this article apply to England and Wales; TfL prosecutions take place at a Magistrates’ Court in London.

Many members of the UK Chinese community receive a thick, all-English SJPN (Single Justice Procedure Notice) from TfL and are bewildered: it contains a “witness statement”, a “response form”, and a warning that a decision will be made if there is no reply. Common scenarios include: tapping with insufficient Oyster credit, forgetting to tap out, using a concessionary card that does not apply to you (such as someone else’s Freedom Pass or a student railcard), gate malfunctions, all treated as fare evasion.

This is not an ordinary penalty fare — it is the beginning of a criminal prosecution. Handled well (especially by seeking an out-of-court settlement), it is usually possible to avoid a criminal record. Handled poorly (ignored or a hasty guilty plea), it can result in a conviction that stays with you for years and affects your visa, ILR, or citizenship application.

This article explains: what an SJPN is, the 21-day deadline, the three response options, how to seek an out-of-court settlement, the impact of a conviction on immigration good character, how to use a statutory declaration to challenge a conviction made in your absence, and step-by-step actions after receiving a notice. All statutory references include links to legislation.gov.uk / gov.uk.

⚠️ First priority: Do not ignore it — and do not plead guilty online before you understand the consequences. Read your options, assess whether an out-of-court settlement is achievable, and if necessary seek advice from a solicitor or CVF without delay — 21 days passes quickly.

Key legal authorities:

Criminal Justice and Courts Act 2015 (creating the Single Justice Procedure)
Magistrates’ Courts Act 1980 s.16A (single justice paper determination)
Magistrates’ Courts Act 1980 s.14 (statutory declaration — setting aside a conviction made in absence)
Regulation of Railways Act 1889 s.5 (travelling without a ticket / deliberate fare evasion — s.5(1) / s.5(3))
TfL Railway Byelaws (byelaws — the strict liability offences most commonly used by TfL, including Byelaw 17 / 18): tfl.gov.uk byelaws
Immigration Rules Part 9 (grounds for refusal — good character / criminal record)
gov.uk — Respond to a Single Justice Procedure Notice

1. What is an SJPN, and why does TfL use it?

The Single Justice Procedure (SJP) is a streamlined, paper-based criminal process:

It applies to summary-only, non-imprisonable minor offences;
A single magistrate, assisted by a legal adviser, decides the case on the papers — no public hearing, no courtroom;
TfL uses it to prosecute fare evasion / travelling without a valid ticket.

An SJPN typically contains:

Item	Details
Charge	The specific offence (usually a railway byelaw, or RoRA 1889 s.5)
Evidence	TfL inspector’s witness statement, tap records, etc.
Response form	Asking you to plead guilty or not guilty, whether you wish to attend, and your account of events
Deadline reminder	Usually 21 days

📌 Distinguish between the two types of offence: TfL most commonly prosecutes under railway byelaws — these carry strict liability, meaning that regardless of intention, the absence of a valid ticket is sufficient to establish the offence, though the byelaw offences are relatively minor. Regulation of Railways Act 1889 s.5(3) (deliberate fare evasion) is more serious, involves an element of dishonesty and intent, and has a greater impact on immigration good character.

2. ⚠️ Do not ignore it — consequences of not responding

If you…	Outcome
Do not respond	The court decides in your absence and will very likely convict you, impose a fine, costs, and a victim surcharge; you have no opportunity to put forward any mitigation
Plead guilty online without reading the notice properly	You may miss the opportunity for an out-of-court settlement and acquire a criminal record that could have been avoided
Respond promptly and correctly	You have the opportunity to settle out of court (no conviction), advance a valid defence, or put forward mitigation

📌 The fine is calculated by reference to your income — if you do not provide your income details, the court may impose a higher fine based on an assumed income. But more significant than the fine is the criminal record and its knock-on effect on your immigration status.

3. The 21-day deadline

You must usually respond within 21 days of the date on the notice;
This deadline is strict and generally cannot be extended;
Act immediately on receipt: read the charge, assess whether an out-of-court settlement is viable, and if necessary contact a solicitor or CVF the same day.

⚠️ Failing to update your address after moving is a common pitfall: TfL and the court serve documents to the registered address, so you may never receive the notice — yet service may still be deemed valid in law. If you have moved house, be especially vigilant (and see Section 7 on the statutory declaration).

4. The three response options

Option	What it means	When it is appropriate
① Plead guilty (no hearing)	Admit the charge; the magistrate decides on the papers and imposes sentence	The facts are clear, you do not intend to contest, and an out-of-court settlement is not available or not needed (but always assess settlement first)
② Plead guilty + submit mitigation / attend	Admit the charge but submit written mitigation or ask to attend court to explain your circumstances	There are genuine background factors, hardship, or a misunderstanding and you wish to reduce the penalty
③ Plead not guilty	Deny the charge; the case transfers to a full Magistrates’ Court hearing (open court, with the opportunity to challenge evidence)	You have a genuine defence (e.g. you did have a valid ticket, the gate malfunctioned, mistaken identity)

📌 Pleading guilty is not your only option: many people assume that because they did tap incorrectly, they should simply plead guilty. But a guilty plea results in a conviction. Before pleading guilty, always ask first: is an out-of-court settlement available? (See Section 5.)

5. ⭐ The most important step: seeking an out-of-court settlement

For most TfL fare evasion cases, TfL may agree to an out-of-court settlement (also referred to as a revenue settlement or special arrangement):

Key point	Details
How to do it	Before the case is decided, proactively contact TfL’s prosecutions or revenue enforcement team in writing, explain your circumstances honestly, express your willingness to pay the outstanding fare and cover TfL’s costs, and request withdrawal of the prosecution
Typical terms	Pay the unpaid fare + TfL’s administrative, investigation, and legal costs
Outcome	TfL withdraws or does not proceed with the prosecution → no conviction, no criminal record
Timing	The sooner the better — raise it within the response deadline and before the magistrate decides the case

📌 Why this is usually the best outcome: an out-of-court settlement produces no conviction, so it will not create a criminal record and generally need not be declared in a visa, ILR, or citizenship application. It requires you to act proactively, courteously, and promptly, presenting helpful context (first offence, genuine misunderstanding, immediate willingness to pay the correct fare, and so on).

⚠️ Settlement is not guaranteed: it is at TfL’s discretion. Repeat offenders, deliberate fare evasion (s.5(3) cases), or more serious circumstances may be refused. A well-drafted letter with supporting evidence significantly improves the prospects — this is precisely where a solicitor or CVF can assist.

6. Why avoiding a conviction matters — immigration good character

For members of the UK Chinese community, the greatest risk of a fare evasion conviction is not the fine, but the impact on immigration status:

Area of impact	Details
Immigration good character	Applications for ILR (indefinite leave to remain) or British citizenship require the applicant to satisfy the good character requirement. Under Immigration Rules Part 9, a criminal conviction — especially one involving dishonesty such as s.5(3) — is a serious suitability concern and may lead to refusal
Criminal record	A conviction creates a record; depending on the circumstances it must be declared honestly for a period of time
Employment / DBS	Certain occupational background checks may reveal the conviction

📌 The core logic: out-of-court settlement = no conviction = generally no obligation to declare in an immigration application; conviction (even for a small fine) = a record = something you may have to address in a visa, ILR, or citizenship application. This is why “paying to settle rather than risking a conviction” is the right choice for many people in the Chinese community.

7. If you were convicted in your absence without ever receiving the notice — statutory declaration

If you discover after the event (for example, from a court fine enforcement notice or a check of your records during a visa application) that you were convicted in your absence under the SJP, and you genuinely did not receive the notice at the time (for example, because you had moved):

You may make a “statutory declaration” under Magistrates’ Courts Act 1980 s.14, declaring that you were unaware of the proceedings;
If accepted, the original conviction and fine are usually set aside and the proceedings reset (allowing you to respond afresh, or to seek a settlement);
Deadline: you must normally make the declaration within 21 days of the date on which you became aware; if made later, you will need to explain the delay.

⚠️ The statutory declaration must be sworn formally (before a magistrate, a solicitor, or a notary). The procedure has specific requirements and it is advisable to do this with the help of a solicitor or CVF.

8. 2024–2025 context: quashed fare evasion convictions

In recent years a large number of rail and transport fare evasion SJP convictions have been quashed by the courts because the procedure was misused — the typical problem being that prosecuting authorities used the SJP for charges that were not eligible for that procedure (for example, bringing proceedings under the Regulation of Railways Act 1889 where the SJP was not available for those charges).

📌 What this means for you: whether the correct procedure and charge were used may itself be a ground of challenge. If you have already been convicted under the SJP and you suspect the charge or procedure was wrong, do not assume there is nothing to be done — seek legal advice promptly and assess whether the conviction can be set aside or appealed.

9. Step-by-step actions after receiving an SJPN

Do not panic, and do not ignore it — note the date on the notice and count forward 21 days.
Read the charge: is it a byelaw (strict liability, less serious) or RoRA s.5(3) (deliberate, more serious)? Read the evidence carefully.
Assess an out-of-court settlement: for most cases this should be the first thing you try — contact TfL in writing promptly, explain your situation honestly, offer to pay the fare and costs, and request withdrawal of the prosecution.
If settlement is not available or is rejected: choose carefully among the three options; before pleading guilty, think through the consequences of a conviction.
If you have a genuine defence (valid ticket, gate malfunction, mistaken identity) → consider pleading not guilty and preserving your evidence.
If convicted in absence and you did not receive the notice → assess the s.14 statutory declaration.
If you are on a route to ILR, citizenship, or a visa application → treat this as a priority; seek to avoid a conviction above all else; consult a solicitor or CVF as early as possible.

10. Common scenarios for the UK Chinese community

Scenario	Advice
Insufficient Oyster credit / forgot to tap out / tapped the wrong card	Typically a settleable situation — contact TfL promptly to request an out-of-court settlement, pay the fare and costs
Used someone else’s concessionary card (Freedom Pass / student railcard)	More sensitive (may involve dishonesty) — seek legal advice quickly, pursue settlement, and avoid an s.5(3) conviction
Currently applying or about to apply for ILR / citizenship	A conviction affects good character — prioritise avoiding a conviction and pursue settlement seriously
Have moved house; suddenly receive a court fine notice	You may have been convicted in your absence — assess the s.14 statutory declaration to set aside the conviction
Limited English; cannot understand the thick notice	Do not let the deadline pass — contact CVF for help understanding and responding

Circle Vision Foundation services

Circle Vision Foundation (CVF) provides assistance to members of the UK Chinese community on SJPN / fare evasion prosecution matters:

Notice interpretation — understanding whether the charge is a byelaw or RoRA s.5, what the evidence shows, and what the deadline is
Out-of-court settlement assistance — drafting a bilingual settlement request letter to TfL, with relevant background and supporting evidence
Response form guidance — analysis of the pros and cons of each of the three options, and assistance completing the form accurately
Mitigation drafting — if you do decide to plead guilty, help preparing a mitigation statement
Statutory declaration assistance — if convicted in absence, help assessing and making an s.14 declaration
Immigration impact assessment and referral — assessing the effect of a conviction on ILR or citizenship applications, and referral to a criminal or immigration solicitor where necessary

Contact details:

Email: [email protected]
Address: 5th Floor, 167-169 Great Portland Street, London, W1W 5PF
Website: circle-vision.org/contact-us

📌 Jurisdiction and version note

Scope: the Single Justice Procedure and the processes described in this article apply to England and Wales; TfL prosecutions take place at a Magistrates’ Court in London.

Version: based on the Criminal Justice and Courts Act 2015, Magistrates’ Courts Act 1980 (s.16A / s.14), Regulation of Railways Act 1889 s.5, TfL Railway Byelaws, and the current Immigration Rules Part 9 (reflecting the position as at May 2026).

Key reminders: respond within 21 days; prioritise an out-of-court settlement to avoid a conviction; a conviction will affect immigration good character; if convicted in absence, an s.14 statutory declaration may be available.

This article is not legal advice — it is an explanatory guide only. For specific circumstances, please consult a solicitor or Circle Vision Foundation (CVF). This article is intended to help you respond to a prosecution notice you have already received in a lawful and appropriate way.

Version and disclaimer:

Jurisdiction: England and Wales
Sources: legislation.gov.uk (Criminal Justice and Courts Act 2015, Magistrates’ Courts Act 1980, Regulation of Railways Act 1889) + gov.uk (Single Justice Procedure, Immigration Rules Part 9) + TfL Railway Byelaws
Last verified: 2026-05-31
Published by: Circle Vision Foundation (England & Wales registered charity no. 1209727)
Feedback and corrections: if you believe any information is out of date or inaccurate, please email [email protected] and we will verify and update within 14 days.

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