AN MP, who was outraged after seeing a fare dodger get away without paying, has claimed victory after security at Basildon station was beefed up.

John Baron, Tory MP for Basildon and Billericay, was going through a ticket barrier at Basildon Station, off Southernhay, Basildon, when a man who had not paid attempted to push his way through the gate behind him.

The MP and another passenger confronted the man and called for help from rail staff.

However, no one working for c2c was trained to restrain people without a ticket, so the man was allowed to leave without punishment.

Mr Baron was so outraged by the incident, which happened in September, he wrote to Julian Drury, managing director of c2c, to complain.

Mr Drury wrote back and confirmed staff at the station were not allowed or trained to confront and restrain fare dodgers.

This provoked Mr Baron to write to c2c again calling for tougher measures to beef up security at the station.

Now the firm has agreed to introduce security staff to work on the gate at the station.

They will wear jackets clearly marked with the word “security” and are trained to physically restrain troublemakers if necessary.