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:
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
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
Esther McVey has formally resigned her position as Chairman of the BTPA following her selection as the Conservative Party candidate for the Tatton Constituency in the upcoming General Election.
Mark Phillips, the current Deputy Chairman, will be fulfilling the duties of Chairman until a permanent replacement can be appointed.