Transport for London (24 012 323)
Category : Transport and highways > Other
Decision : Closed after initial enquiries
Decision date : 26 Nov 2024
The Ombudsman's final decision:
Summary: We will not investigate this complaint about adverts on the transport network because there is not enough evidence of fault to justify investigation.
The complaint
- Mr Y complained the Authority authorised the display of posters which he says is harmful and defamatory and racially aggravated in its nature.
- Mr Y says the issue has caused him upset and disgust due to the content of the posters.
The Ombudsman’s role and powers
- We investigate complaints about ‘maladministration’ and ‘service failure’, which we call ‘fault’. We must also consider whether any fault has had an adverse impact on the person making the complaint, which we call ‘injustice’. We provide a free service, but must use public money carefully. We do not start or continue an investigation if we decide there is not enough evidence of fault to justify investigating. (Local Government Act 1974, section 24A(6), as amended, section 34(B))
How I considered this complaint
- I considered information Mr Y and the Authority provided and the Ombudsman’s Assessment Code.
My assessment
- Mr Y complained about posters displayed in stations which appear to have the Authority’s branding on them. Mr Y says the content of the posters is defamatory and links groups of people to terrorism and other crimes.
- The Authority says the posters were put up without its consent in stations and where it has found them, the posters have been removed. It says it is continuing to carry out inspections within its stations to try to identify any repeated issues and is working with the police to ensure its stations remains safe for passengers.
- As the Authority has recognised the problem caused by the unauthorised posters promptly, which do not belong to it and it has not produced, acted to remove the posters where it is aware of them and is continuing to try to tackle the issue through regular inspections, there is not enough evidence of fault to justify investigating. We will not investigate.
Final decision
- We will not investigate Mr Y’s complaint because there is not enough evidence of fault to justify investigating.
Investigator's decision on behalf of the Ombudsman