The British Transport Police Authority (BTPA) has overseen the work of the British Transport Police (BTP) for 11 years and in that time BTP have become world class and world leaders in what they do.

They are seen as a vital part of the rail family ensuring the safety and security of everyone who uses the rail network.

In all of its history BTP has never performed better and crime on the railways has reduced year on year.

BTP is different to Home Office police forces because it works in a commercial environment and is fully funded by the rail industry from passenger and freight revenue.

Annual targets are the result of joint working with BTP and consultation with our stakeholders, including passenger groups, rail staff, train companies and Network Rail. These intelligence led targets, support the goals of the rail industry, and use measures which are meaningful for the operational and commercial model underpinning the rail franchising system.

Targets set clear, visible, goals that evidence to passengers, and our many other stakeholders, how their feedback has been used and that the right steps are being taken to meet long term goals of reducing crime and disruption.

The achievements of BTP in reducing crime and disruption every year, and the increase in passenger confidence, demonstrates that targets work in a rail environment.

The policing plans for 2015/16 were formally agreed in March this year and are the result of annual consultation.

View this year’s policing plans.

New targets, driven by national passenger feedback, have today been officially handed over to the officers that police Britain’s railways.

The British Transport Police Authority (BTPA), which oversees the work of British Transport Police (BTP), has worked closely with the Force to produce this year’s policing plans which, it says, take on board the feedback of passengers and rail staff more than ever before.

This year’s policing targets are the result of ramped up public consultation with passengers who made themselves heard via BTP’s first ever public consultation as well as through the National Rail Passenger survey.

The result is national and locally based plans for more visible policing, especially late at night, and a crackdown on anti-social behaviour and crimes that cause disruption and delays on tubes and trains.

To maximise resources there will be an emphasis on more intelligence-led policing this year via Operation Trafalgar, a method which uses years of data to analyse crimes by time and location, allowing the Force to focus on preventing rather than reacting to crime.

Rail bosses and their staff have also worked closely with the authority and BTP to influence policing plans this year, with particular emphasis on tackling staff assaults and work that can be done to reduce disruption caused by offences such as trespass. Targets have been set that will see BTP working directly with partners to reduce disruption as well as increase confidence amongst rail employees.

The 2015/16 national targets for BTP include:

• Reduce crime by at least 3%
• Reduce violence against the person offences by at least 10%
• At least a 78.8% confidence rating for passengers measured by the National Rail Passenger Survey

Local targets for London and East /South of England include:

• Reduce violence and aggression towards London Underground and DLR staff – last year there were 417 offences
• To carry out a total of 588 on-train patrols during Friday evenings
• Reduce bicycle offences, which includes theft, by at least 10 %

Local targets for Pennine, Wales, Western, Midlands include:

• Reduce theft of passenger property by at least 5%
• Work with the rail industry to create bespoke problem solving plans to address anti-social behaviour and trespass

Local targets for Scotland include:

• Reduce the number of violent offences at Edinburgh Waverley by 20%, Glasgow Central by 10% and Glasgow Queen Street by 10%
• Work with Community Rail Partnerships at a minimum of six locations to improve confidence

The release of the new policing plans coincides with a campaign launch by BTP on Monday, 1 June, to show passengers how their feedback has been used.

BTP is committed to increasing passenger confidence this year and, the policing plans, which list the Force’s targets, have been designed to encourage conversation. They contain contact details of commanders across the country as well as a feedback tool for anyone wanting to share their thoughts on the targets with the Force or the police authority.

Millie Banerjee Chair of the BTPA said:

“This year’s targets capture the big issues affecting those who travel or work on the railways because we’ve worked with passengers and rail employees to develop them. They support the Force to make the greatest impact by encouraging partnership working, whilst focusing policing where it is needed most.

“They are the result of much conversation and we don’t want that conversation to stop now. We want to track how these focused priorities are working for passengers and the rail industry to help us plan for next year. This year’s policing plans have been designed to keep that conversation going.”

The Chief Constable of BTP, Paul Crowther added:

“The targets for 2015/16 build on our successes last year to reduce disruption and increase passenger confidence and will, rightly, be extremely challenging.

“Passenger feedback means this year we are confident our targets are focused on the issues that matter most. Securing the confidence of passengers is vital to our success as a force, increasing visibility and ensuring we have the right people, with the right skills, in the right place, at the right time, will help us achieve this.”

Tell us what you think of the targets visit www.btpa.police.uk/policingplans

 

Transport Secretary Patrick McLoughlin has today (28 May 2015) announced the appointment of a new member of the British Transport Police Authority.

 Dyan Crowther, Chief Operating Officer of Govia Thameslink Railway, which operates Thameslink and Great Northern services, took up her appointment on 6 May for a four-year term. She will bring her extensive knowledge of the rail industry to help the authority develop its policing strategy.

Transport Secretary Patrick McLoughlin said:

“We already have one of the safest railways in Europe, but we can’t be complacent. Dyan Crowther will bring considerable skills and experience to the authority. I am confident that she will strengthen its effectiveness both in policing and in ensuring the smooth running of the network.”

Dyan Crowther has worked in the rail industry for more than 25 years, having held a number of senior positions with train operators and Network Rail.

Dyan said: “British Transport Police do an excellent job of keeping our railways safe for passengers and, working with our own crime prevention team, have helped reduce recorded crime by 9% in the past year on Thameslink routes. I am honoured to be offered this role.”

The British Transport Police Authority was established in 2004 to improve the public accountability of British Transport Police (BTP).

 

The chair of the body that oversees the work of British Transport Police (BTP) has announced she is stepping down from her position having served two terms at the police authority.

Millie Banerjee, Chair of the British Transport Police Authority (BTPA) is set to leave the governing body in August having spent more than six years guiding the work of the railway’s national police force.

Millie, who sits on a number of boards, has carefully timed her departure to allow for the recruitment of a new chair well ahead of the Authority’s stakeholder event in September. Rail industry and passenger representatives attend the annual event to hear the chair’s vision and plans for the governing body and Millie’s departure in summer will allow ample time for a new chair to embed themselves into the organisation.

Millie, the second chair in BTPA’s history since its creation in 2004, said:

“After a great deal of consideration I have decided that now is the right time for me to leave the Authority. I am very proud of what has been achieved during my time at the BTPA and the countless achievements of BTP. Crime on the rail network is lower than it’s ever been and the BTPA has forged enduring relationships with partners in the rail industry which will ensure a safer, more efficient rail network for the future. I have dedicated many years to improving policing on the railways and today BTP are recognised as world leaders in what they do and rightly so.

“I have a number of other interests that I would like to turn my attention to and I feel I can do that now, secure in the knowledge that BTP is in the best shape it’s ever been.”

Andrew Figgures, Chief Executive of the BTPA said:

“We are very sad to be losing Millie as our chair. It has been a great honour to serve under Millie’s chairmanship. Millie has earned the respect of industry and has led the Authority through some very challenging times. Her leadership in developing our strategy with its challenging objectives was inspirational. She has always been immensely supportive of the Force. On behalf of everyone at the Authority I wish Millie the very best for the future.”

The Chief Constable of BTP Paul Crowther added:

“Since BTPA’s establishment in 2004 crime has fallen year on year on the railway, disruption caused by cable theft has reduced by 73%, robbery is down 83%, passenger confidence has increased, and relationships with our industry partners are at their strongest. BTP has been able to achieve these results due to the continued support, investment and belief of the BTPA. Millie’s stewardship, guidance and astuteness have been a real driver behind our success. In particular, Millie has been instrumental in building extremely positive relationships with the industry and convinced them that BTP is an enabler to their businesses that adds value.

“Millie leaves BTPA in the knowledge that the Force is in a very strong position to continue to evolve and meet the demands of a growing railway and its passengers. I am extremely grateful for her personal support and guidance as DCC and Chief Constable.”

The Authority is working closely with the Department for Transport to recruit a new chair.

New targets, vital for keeping the country moving and passengers safe, are being rolled out force wide today.

The British Transport Police Authority (BTPA), which oversees the work of the Force, has worked closely with BTP to produce this year’s National and Divisional Policing Plans which sets out targets to be delivered by the end of the year.

This year’s targets are a result of ramped up public consultation with passengers making themselves heard via BTP’s passenger survey and the National Rail Passenger survey. As a result passengers can expect to see more officers at stations where they are needed most.

The rail industry and its staff have also worked closely with the Authority and BTP to influence plans this year with particular emphasis on work that can done to reduce disruption caused by offences such as trespass. Targets have been set this year that will see BTP working directly with partners to reduce disruption as well as increase confidence amongst rail employees.

The 2015 – 16 National targets for BTP are:

• Reduce crime by 3 per cent

• Reduce violence against the person offences by at least 10 per cent

• By working with our partners, BTP will achieve at least a 7 per cent reduction in total police related lost minutes in 2015-16

• At least a 78.8 per cent confidence rating for passengers measured by the National Rail Passenger Survey

• At least a 67.7 per cent confidence rating for rail staff measured by the BTP rail staff survey

• Increase in confidence at the 20 stations with the lowest confidence ratings as measured by the National Rail Passenger Survey

• Average days lost to sickness absence per employee to be less than 7.3 days (or 2014-15 end of year performance if lower)

Announcing the plans Millie Banerjee Chair of the BTPA said:

“This year’s targets capture the big issues affecting those who work for or use the railways. They support the Force to make the greatest impact by encouraging partnership working whilst focusing policing where it is needed most.

“As passenger numbers rise and infrastructure expands work to fulfil the longer term targets is becoming more challenging. We are now into the heavy lifting and BTP will need to lean on rail partners to achieve its targets. Tackling disruption or the causes of disruption for example cannot be solved by BTP alone which is why we’ve set targets for BTP to work with rail partners on joint plans to tackle issues that matter most to passengers and rail companies.”

Chief Constable of BTP, Paul Crowther added:

“The targets for 2015/16 build on our successes last year to reduce disruption and increase passenger confidence and will, rightly, be extremely challenging. Passenger feedback means this year we are confident our targets are focused on the issues that matter most. Securing the confidence of passengers is vital to our success as a force, increasing visibility and ensuring we have the right people with the right skills in the right place at the right time will help us achieve this.

“BTP has always worked closely with our industry partners and the focus this year on local problem solving plans underpins this essential relation. The disruption of services, whether as a result of trespass or other crimes, affects millions of passengers and its right that our targets around this continue to be ambitious.

“The year ahead will no doubt bring plenty of opportunities to strengthen and enhance the work already being undertaken by BTP to make a difference to the millions of rail staff and passengers who depend on Britain’s rail network. I look forward to another demanding and interesting year.”