APPLICATIONS NO LONGER BEING ACCEPTED

The BTPA is currently looking for applicants for the position of Chair of the Authority.

The Secretary of State for Transport is looking to appoint a new Chair who, by building on the strong record of the previous Chair, can provide effective and visible leadership skills which results in the delivery of strong outcomes for the railway. At a critical time for our national security, the new Chair will be responsible for ensuring that the BTPA supports and challenges the BTP so that it maximises its essential contribution to the security of Great Britain’s railways.

The Chair will also be responsible for leading the BTPA through an orderly and timely transfer of the BTP’s functions in Scotland to Police Scotland by April 2019 and for ensuring that the BTP engages positively with the challenge set by the 2015 Spending Review to improve the efficiency and effectiveness of the BTP without any negative impacts on the operational effectiveness of the Force.

The British Transport Police (BTP) is the police force for the railways, providing an essential policing service to rail operators, their staff and passengers. As a public body, the specialist British Transport Police Authority (BTPA) holds the BTP to account for the delivery of this vital police service, ensuring its effectiveness and efficiency.

You will need to have a credible track record of driving forward change and improving performance, particularly through constructive challenge and effective decision-making. You should also be a strong communicator who, as well as being able to engage with the public, is able to establish personal credibility with a complex range of stakeholders, including crucially with those operating in the political, commercial and media environments.

For more information, including how to apply, click here for the appointment brief. For the supporting information form, click here. If you have any further questions, please call Laverne Bryant on 020 7388 2643. Applications should arrive no later than noon on 15 September 2017.

£32,000 for circa 60 days over a year – London

Preferred starting date: late 2017/early 2018

Interviews are expected to be held during October/November 2017.

The BTPA values equality and diversity in employment and a socially inclusive transport system.

We want the organisation to be as diverse as the community it serves. We welcome applicants from all sections of the community regardless of their race, ethnic or national origin, gender, disability, marital status, age, religion or belief, sexual orientation or working pattern.

The British Transport Police Fund Annual Report and Accounts for the year ending 31 March 2017 was formally laid before the UK Parliament this afternoon. This document constitutes the British Transport Police Authority’s Annual Report and includes a performance report, accountability report and financial statements.

The Annual Report can be downloaded here.

Mark Phillips has taken up the role of Interim Chairman of the BTPA after the resignation of Esther McVey, who left to stand for Parliament.

Mark, who is also CEO of RSSB, will be supported by Len Jackson as Interim Deputy Chairman and will fulfil the duties until a new permanent Chairman is appointed.

Today the British Transport Police Authority (BTPA) has issued the full versions of the National and Division Plans for policing the railways in 2017-18. These new look plans are in the form of seven National Commitments, supported by a broad range of performance indicators.

The core strategic objective remain tackling crime, reducing disruption and promoting confidence while delivering value for money but these plans mark a move away from a strategy that was in danger of taking police away from where we, in consultation with passengers, staff and train operators, believe they are needed most, in order to pursue numerical targets that may not in reality contribute to one of the core strategic objectives to a new strategy that will provide BTP and the Authority the flexibility to meet the evolving demands of policing Britain’s expanding railway networks and the ability to provide meaningful performance results.

BTP’s seven National Commitments for 2017-18:

• Counter terrorism
• Preventing crime
• Protecting vulnerable people
• Supporting the railways
• Supporting and valuing our workforce
• Building confidence and satisfaction
• Improving effectiveness and efficiency

 

The BTPA, which oversees the work of British Transport Police (BTP), has worked closely with BTP, representatives of the rail industry and passengers to produce this year’s Policing Plans.  The BTPA has taken on board the feedback received from more than 7,000 rail passengers and staff collected via the National Rail Passenger survey and BTP’s own public consultation. These new look plans form the first step in revisiting the Authority’s overall strategy for the BTP, as we move to a new one for 2018-2021. The Authority will be carrying out a lot of work to prepare a new three year strategy to ensure an effective and efficient British Transport Police for the future and we will be consulting on this in the autumn.

Mark Phillips, Interim Chair of the BTPA said: “On behalf of the Authority I am pleased to be able to share with you these new look Policing Plans set out how BTP plan to tackle crime, reduce disruption and promote confidence on the railway networks over the next 12 months. With the adoption of performance indicators BTP will be able to demonstrate clearly the work it is doing the effect it is having against the National and Divisional Commitments.

“This new approach will provide BTP and the Authority the flexibility to meet the evolving demands of policing Britain’s expanding railway networks and the ability to provide meaningful performance results.”

The Chief Constable of BTP, Paul Crowther added: “We are moving towards a culture that encourages and supports our people to focus on preventing crime and on the needs of victims and witnesses.”

View the National Policing Plans here

B Division

C Division

D Division

We at the British Transport Police Authority are immensely proud of the response by BTP officers and staff to the Manchester bomb and the aftermath.  We continue to be impressed by the manner in which they have dealt with the increase in pressure and workload as a result of this event and the subsequent temporary raising of the threat level to critical.  The Force has demonstrated its professionalism and expertise, with many going above and beyond. The Authority fully supports the Chief Constable and senior team and we have full confidence in the Force’s work – we thank them for all their hard work and dedication. It is gratifying to know that the public shares this view as we see from the raft of positive feedback that BTP has received from social media.

In the wake of events like this it is especially important that BTP and other police forces provide the reassuring presence that only uniformed officers on patrol can. The combination of officers being visible, while being vigilant and approachable gives people travelling the confidence to go about their day to day lives as normally as possible.

Mark Phillips
Deputy Chairman

Charlotte Vitty
Chief Executive