![\"A](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/1_JAJ_TEM_211025Tram_001JPG.jpg\")
<\/p>\n‘Yes it is something we see in sci-fi, something we see at the cinema, but actually it is something we can use to detect anti-social behaviour’<\/p>\n
19:03, 13 Jan 2026Updated 19:04, 13 Jan 2026<\/p>\n
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A tram pictured in Old Market Square, Nottingham city centre(Image: Joseph Raynor\/ Reach PLC)<\/p>\n
Penalty fares for riding Nottingham\u2019s tram network without a ticket could be increased to \u00a3120 – and a new AI tool is set to track troublemakers.<\/p>\n
An Artificial Intelligence (AI) feature, called \u201cRoboCop\u201d in jest by the operator\u2019s boss, is being trialled in a bid to tackle anti-social behaviour.<\/p>\n
It all comes as more effort is being put into making the NET network safer and more financially sustainable.<\/a><\/p>\n Currently penalty fares for people found riding the tram without a ticket are \u00a370, but permission is being sought by the operator from the Government to increase the amount to \u00a3120.<\/p>\n However this would be discounted to \u00a360 if paid within 14 days.<\/p>\n During a meeting to discuss the network on Tuesday (January 13), Tim Hesketh, the chief executive officer of Tramlink, said: \u201cCurrently the penalty fare is a single price of \u00a370, and if you go beyond the second appeal there is a \u00a325 admin charge.<\/p>\n \u201cCurrently there is no real incentive for people to just pay. It is very easy for people to kick the can down the road.<\/p>\n \u201cSo in line with the changes to national rail penalty fare schemes, we are asking the Secretary of State if we can increase penalty fares to \u00a3120, but discounted to \u00a360 if it is paid within 14 days.<\/p>\n \u201c\u00a370 is not hugely dissimilar to a monthly season ticket cost for an adult, and we\u2019ve always been wary that somebody may say they will risk getting caught once per month because I am never going to be paying more than a monthly season ticket anyway. So we think this is actually going to make it easier for us.<\/p>\n \u201cIf in a year we decide it hasn\u2019t been any better we will look at changing it again.\u201d<\/p>\n Mr Hesketh also revealed a new AI tool will be trialled in a bid to clamp down on anti-social behaviour on the network.<\/a><\/p>\n During the meeting he showed footage of the AI tool being used to detect a group of young people picking up ballast from the tracks, before using the small rocks to smash a shelter at Cinderhill tram stop.<\/p>\n He said there are almost 300 CCTV cameras across the network, but only 30 are visible at any one time to staff working in the control room.<\/p>\n