BTP Chief Constable reappointed until 2021

Chief Constable Paul Crowther OBE will stay at the British Transport Police until 2021, following a decision by the British Transport Police Authority (BTPA) to extend his contract.

The Department for Transport has this week approved the BTPA’s decision to extend the contract of Chief Constable Crowther until February 2021. Mr Crowther joined the BTP in 1980 and has been Chief Constable for five years.

Chair of the BTPA, Ron Barclay-Smith, said: “On behalf of the Authority, I am delighted to confirm the reappointment of Chief Constable Crowther, who has agreed to lead the British Transport Police for another two years.

“Under Paul’s tenure as Chief Constable, the British Transport Police has adapted to the needs of an ever-growing and evolving rail network, which has specialist policing requirements and poses a continuous stream of new challenges in the face of increasing passenger numbers and a growing, modernising network.

“I am grateful to Paul for his leadership over the last five years and look forward to working with him in the future.”

Chief Constable Paul Crowther said: “I am immensely proud to be the Chief Constable of British Transport Police and I am delighted that my appointment as Chief Constable has been extended until 2021.

“I look forward to leading the Force and its dedicated workforce through some considerable challenges which lie ahead, and deliver a modern policing service which protects the travelling public, rail infrastructure and the staff who work on it.”

Chief Constable Crowther has 38 years of service with the BTP and was awarded an OBE in 2014. Mr Crowther has a long history in crime and operations, and was the Incident Commander at several major train crash incidents. He was the Senior Investigating Officer at the 2001 Potters Bar crash and he led the BTP’s operational response to the London terrorist attacks in 2005.

Ends

Note for Editors:
The BTPA is responsible for appointing BTP Chief Officers and senior staff, setting the objectives for the Force and determining its budget. The BTPA is also responsible for contracts relating to the costs of rail policing, which are funded by the rail industry.

The Secretary of State for Transport approves the decision of the BTPA regarding Chief Officer appointments under section 21 (2) (a) of the Railways and Transport Safety Act 2003.