In January 2017, the Policing and Crime Act 2017 achieved Royal Assent which was the vehicle to introduce wide-reaching reforms across the entire disciplinary system, following the Chapman Report. The changes were introduced with the aim of making the complaints system more customer focused, proportionate, less adversarial, with greater emphasis on improvement and learning. These improvements have been long awaited and are very much welcomed by the British Transport Police (BTP) and British Transport Police Authority (BTPA). We hope they will bring a positive cultural change to the organisation.
The corresponding regulations were implemented by Home Office Forces on 1 February 2020. Ensuring that our organisation remains aligned with other Police Forces, we will be introducing new regulations on 4 January 2021, which will enable BTP to adopt the new provisions. Due to our unique makeup and legislative differences, it has been necessary for the BTPA to enter into a formal agreement with the Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC) and the Home Office in order for BTP to adopt the changes, which accounts to the later timeline.
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One of the key areas of change for the BTPA will be is that appeals are replaced by a new system of Reviews. Local Policing Bodies will become the review body for locally handled enquiries which deal with less serious complaints, where this was previously the responsibility of the Chief Constable.
The following page sets out the process in greater detail.
Read the updated regulations here –
BTP Performance Regulations 2020 FINAL
BTP Conduct Regulations 2020 FINAL
BTP Appeals Tribunal Regulations 2020 FINAL
BTP Complaints and Misconduct Regulations 2020 FINAL