Key figures from across the rail industry have shown support for the BTPA in the run up to its annual workshop tomorrow where it will recognise the achievements that have been made by working with partners in the rail industry over the past decade.
The Authority, which is celebrating its tenth anniversary this year, is embarking on a year long campaign to mark the milestone and demonstrate to industry and passengers its continued commitment to ‘shaping progress together’ by highlighting the benefits this work has already achieved.
Millie Banerjee Chair of the BTPA said:
“We want to mark this occasion by highlighting how far the Authority and the BTP have come, celebrate our shared achievements, thank everyone for their support now and in the future, and reaffirm our commitment to stakeholders to continue shaping progress together.”
On Thursday, representatives from across the rail industry including the BTP, staff from train/ freight operating companies and representatives from passenger groups will converge in Camden for the Authority’s annual stakeholder workshop. Guests will hear from the BTPA how it plans to work more closely with them in order to deliver policing that better reflects rail and passenger need and how it intends to take bigger strides towards a safer railway delivered by a more efficient and effective Force.
In advance of the event, key representatives working in the rail industry have been sending the Authority messages of support and expressing their satisfaction with the successes already achieved since the Authority was set up in 2004:
“Over the last ten years the BTPA in concert with the BTP and the rail industry has transformed policing on the nations railways. We look forward to working with you to build on these improvements so that everyone using the railway feels safe and secure.”
Mark Carne, CEO, Network Rail
“Passenger Focus is pleased to see that BTPA’s overarching strategy and policy plans are underpinned by joint passenger research with Passenger Focus to help focus on issues that are of genuine interest to passengers. Targets based on reducing crime levels, reducing police-related disruption, increasing the visibility of staff in the evening and reducing public order offences are outcomes that passengers want to see. The more that industry strategy reflects passengers’ interests, the better the railway will become.”
Chief Executive Anthony Smith Passenger Focus
“We are world class – and world leaders – in reducing disruption related to fatalities, and our stakeholders want us to be first on scene to all incidents as we are the trusted leaders in these, often traumatic, situations. All this has been achieved during the tenure of the British Transport Police Authority and this would not have been possible without its continuing support and belief in the Force.”
Chief Constable of BTP Paul Crowther
“Congratulations on the Authority’s 10th anniversary. The Authority has provided excellent leadership to ensure that the railway system is effectively and efficiently policed, and that passengers feel safe and secure when travelling. The Authority will I’m sure continue to build on the successes of its first 10 years, rising to the challenges of delivering the best police services whilst controlling costs within the resources available.”
Minister of State for Transport Baroness Kramer
“With recent controversial changes made to the governance of police forces in the UK, the continued stewardship of the BTP by a highly professional and representative Authority is a great strength for the industry. The BTP itself has always been integral to our railway yet in the last decade its role, status and value has continued to be challenged. The response has been magnificent. Under Ian Johnston its role and profile was reaffirmed. Under Andy Trotter the drive for efficiency and alignment, delivered and underlined its value. Under Paul Crowther its structure and objectives are so closely aligned to those of the wider railway that the Force could not be in better shape to deliver. With the cries often heard for greater re-integration of our industry, our respective teams today are working ever more closely or more effectively, underlining the progress that has been made.”
Andrew Cooper Managing Director, Cross Country (pictured)
On Thursday, BTPA will announce a number of commitments that it believes will enhance relationships with partners and support the Force to achieve ambitious targets to reduce disruption and crime on the railways by 20 per cent and increase passenger confidence by 10 per cent by 2019.
Highlights from the event, including commitments made at the Authority’s workshop, entitled ‘BTPA 10 years: ‘shaping progress together‘, will be posted on the BTPA website soon after the event.