We are delighted to welcome Ron Barclay-Smith as the new Chair of the British Transport Police Authority (BTPA); he takes over from Esther McVey, who stepped down last year, and Mark Phillips who has led the work of the Authority as interim Chair since April 2017.
We look forward to working with him to define the Authority’s work over the next four years; it will be a busy time during which we will be launching a number of programmes to implement our new Strategy for policing the railways to 2021.
Charlotte Vitty, Chief Executive of the BTPA, said ‘we are looking forward to welcoming Ron to the Authority to build on the foundations laid this year, as we have approached the resetting of our future strategy and governance structure. It is an exciting time within the BTP, BTPA and the wider rail network, and Ron will be very well placed to work with stakeholders to continue to position the BTP at the heart of this ever growing industry. I would like to take this opportunity to thank both Mark Phillips and Len Jackson for their leadership and support since Esther McVey’s departure in April 2017.’
Mr Barclay-Smith is a former RAF officer, and is currently a non-executive director at the Criminal Injuries Compensation Authority. He also has extensive experience in various chief executive roles in, among others, the legal and health sectors, and chair roles, including in the charity sector, following his career in the RAF. He joins the Authority for a period of four years from 5 March 2018.