BTPA have responded to a Transport Select Committee report released today about security on the railways.
Chair of the British Transport Police Authority Millie Banerjee said:“We are pleased the Transport Select Committee has recognised the achievement’s BTP has made in reducing crime year on year during the ten years the Authority has overseen the Force’s work.
“Their achievements are a direct result of the targets we have set.
“Work around the protection of vulnerable children at railway stations has already begun and we will work closely with partners to develop further understanding of this complex policing matter in order to introduce appropriate targets in the New Year. I offered my assurances to the committee that I would look into this issue further and I will.
“We are robust in our scrutiny to ensure the Force complies with its statutory responsibilities and will continue to develop our oversight to ensure all those who work on and use the railway, including children, are safe.”
Assistant Chief Constable Mark Newton said: “As the committee acknowledges, crime on Britain’s railways has fallen for the tenth year in a row due to the ‘effectiveness of the specialist rail policing provided by British Transport Police.’
“We support the committee’s focus on vulnerable people on the rail network. BTP is confident its child-safeguarding measures are robust, with children and young people found on the railway returned to places of safety. There is always more we can do.
“The report says 750 missing children were found at London railway stations in the 16 months to August 2013. This figure has been misinterpreted. In fact, the vast majority came into police contact for entirely different reasons and were not missing at all.
“BTP will continue to develop analysis in other areas to inform its work in keeping children safe when they come to our notice.
“Between November 2012 and this month, BTP found approximately 265 children on or around the railway, reported missing from home across the country – around three a week.”