Revenue Protection Officer
Revenue protection officers patrol bus routes ensuring that passengers have the correct tickets or passes for the journey that they want to make. They make checks at bus stops with boarding passengers, and also board buses during journeys to check that everyone on the bus already has the correct ticket or pass.Revenue protection officers have the rights to issue on-the-spot fines to travellers who are not complying with travel requirements. Travellers must have the appropriate ticket or pass for the journey they wish to make.
Other parts of a revenue protection officer’s job can include enforcing no smoking policies and monitoring passenger behaviour to make sure that there is no disorder. Bus companies also use revenue protection officers to provide a safer travelling environment and reassurance to passengers.
The starting salary for a revenue protection officer is approximately £145000 rising to £17000 after completion of training and with experience. Senior revenue protection officers can earn up to £22500.
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Working environment
Revenue protection officers spend much of their day out and about, travelling around the bus network. They will be allocated routes to cover in any particular shift.Revenue protection officers are required to work the same hours that bus services operate, and so they will have a working week of up to 40 hours which is worked in shifts, including early mornings, late nights, weekends and bank holidays.
Uniforms are provided for revenue protection officers, although on occasions they may be asked to work in plain clothes so that they can try and ‘catch’ travellers who have not got the right pass or ticket for the journey that they are making.
Revenue protection officers will also spend some of their time in an office at the bus depot or station. There they will write up reports of their work and keep records of the checks that they made and any fines that they issued.
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Skills and interests
Revenue protection officers require a wide range of skills:- clear communication and assertiveness for dealing with a wide range of people, including some that may be resistant to paying a fine/extra fare
- numeracy and a good memory for working with a wide range of fares
- ability to work on own initiative and to make decisions quickly
- an understanding of customer service in order to provide adequate support to passengers.
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Entry into the role
Bus employers will normally require that applicants for the role of revenue protection officer have a sound standard of literacy and numeracy, such as GCSEs (or national equivalent) in maths and English. Some experience of working in a customer service environment can be advantageous.Jobs are available in every part of the country, but most work is in larger towns and cities at bus stations/depots. Jobs can be advertised in the local press or at employment agencies or organisations such as Jobcentre Plus. Some bus companies also use their own company website and even their buses to advertise vacancies.Go Back
Opportunities
Revenue protection officers can progress to take on added responsibilities for customer service or for planning revenue protection work. They may also move into performance management.There are qualifications that are relevant to the role of revenue protection officer:-
- EDI level 2 certificate in road passenger transport
- NVQ level 2 in road passenger transport operations (offered by Edexcel and EDI).
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Useful links
- Confederation of Passenger Transport
- Arriva
- First UK Bus
- GoAhead
- National Express
- Stagecoach
- Route One (magazine)
- Bus & Coach Professional (magazine)
- Coach and Bus Monthly (magazine)