British Transport Police Authority’s (BTPA) new Chair, Esther McVey, praised BTP’s innovative working following visits to the British Transport Police’s Specialist Operations Support Unit, Central London Police Station (CLPS) and Euston station hub team last week.
Esther met Superintendent John Conaghan from the Counter Terrorism Support Unit (CTSU) at Blundell Street to find out more about how BTP are at the forefront of preventing terrorist attacks on the rail network and the work that goes on behind the scenes. She also had the chance to learn about the Football Unit and how the force are focusing on tackling football-related anti-social behaviour on board trains and at stations.
Divisional Commander Chief Superintendent Martin Fry welcomed Esther to CLPS and gave an overview of current operations and priorities across B Division before introducing her to the Dip Squad and Sexual Offences teams.
BTPA Chair Esther McVey said:
“It was great to get a chance to see first-hand the wide range of strategic and operational issues BTP has to deal with each day and the different tactics and resources it can deploy, alongside its rail industry partners, to address them.
“I believe it’s important that as Chair I appreciate the reality of delivering policing on the railway and to help me with that I look forward to spending an evening shift with the Force shortly and being part of a team deployed to a football policing operation.”
Chief Superintendent Fry said:
“It was great to meet BTPA’s new Chair and to get the opportunity to discuss the range of work we do here on division and challenges that we face for the New Year. Hopefully the tour was insightful and revealed more about our capabilities and how we use these as a specialist force.”
Esther concluded her visit by heading over to meet Chief Superintendent Paul Brogden, who is working for Network Rail and leads on tackling disruption, before meeting the hub team at Euston station.