The British Transport Police Authority (BTPA) has appointed Andy Cooper, former Managing Director of Cross Country Trains, as Interim Deputy Chair.

Mr Cooper, who has been a Member of BTPA since 2019, replaces Rail Safety and Standards Board (RSSB) Chief Executive Mark Phillips who stood down from his role as Deputy Chair and a member of the Authority on 6 November 2020.

BTPA Chair Ron Barclay-Smith said: “After a seven-year tenure at BTPA we were sad to see Mark go but look forward to Andy taking up the position of Interim Deputy Chair. Prior to joining the Authority, Andy had a long career within the rail industry and brings invaluable insight into the needs and priorities of our industry partners.

“We wish Mark Phillips all the best for the future and thank him for the time and guidance he has contributed to the Authority.”

There are currently 12 members of the BTPA, who are appointed by the Secretary of State for Transport. Members are required to have knowledge of a range of views from the rail industry and rail passengers. Vacancies are publicly advertised by the Department for Transport and filled when required.

 

The British Transport Police Authority (BTPA) would like to congratulate the three BTP officers and staff who were recognised in the Queen’s Birthday Honours last week.

The awards are as follows:

• A QPM for Detective Chief Inspector Kate Forsyth
• An MBE for Force Resources Manager Elizabeth McWhirter
• An OBE for Detective Superintendent Gary Richardson

For more information about their achievements, please see the BTP news story.

The British Transport Police (BTP) Policing Plans for 2020/21 are now available to view on the Policing Plan section of the BTPA website.

While the objectives in these plans were developed prior to the onset of the Coronavirus pandemic, the Plan acknowledges that operational focus will remain on the demands posed by the virus and related restrictions, ensuring the railway network remains safe and secure.

This year’s Annual Objectives:

• Protect the railway and prepare for the impact of terrorist attacks
• Protect rail passengers and staff by tackling serious violent crime and robbery
• Partnership working at key locations where there is a high risk associated with vulnerable people or volume crime
• Reduce disruption at trespass locations and continue interventions with those in crisis on the railway
• Adopt a problem solving approach to policing anti-social behaviour and violence associated with football matches
• Protect, support and safeguard vulnerable people and those at risk of harm on the railway

BTPA Chair, Ron Barclay-Smith, said: “We were prepared to publish the 2020/21 Policing Plans in April 2020 but we delayed this due to the swift onset of the Coronavirus crisis.

“Within the space of a few weeks our officers and staff were forced to adapt their ways of working to face the challenges posed by lockdown, new rules relating to the use of the railway and stations, as well as criminality and safeguarding issues that continued even when the majority of railway users were avoiding public places.

“To release our plans for the year in April would have been inappropriate, and the Authority agreed to delay publication and instead put our full support behind the operational decision-making needed by the Force in the face of the crisis.”

Update: 20 August 2020

On June 5 2020, the BTP invited the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) to independently review the available evidence in the Victoria Station investigation involving Belly Mujinga.

The BTP said: “In recognition of the wider public interest in the circumstances of this case, whilst we made the decision not to charge, we have now invited independent review by the CPS of the available evidence, and whether there are any further lines of enquiry in relation to BTP’s position on the prospect of meeting the general principle of a successful prosecution.”

The CPS have now concluded their review and you can read their statement on the CPS website.

Update: 26 June 2020

Following the high level of public interest in the Belly Mujinga case, BTP has released a further statement on the investigation into the incident at Victoria Station, which you can see on the BTP website.

Due to the high volume of emails received by BTPA, it will not be possible to respond individually to all but the above statement answers many of the questions in the emails we received.

The BTPA received a significant number of emails requesting the release to the public of the CCTV footage of the alleged spitting incident at Victoria Station. Whilst it is always our preference to provide a personal response to correspondence the BTPA does not have the resources to respond to each of these requests on an individual basis. Therefore, this statement forms our response to the FOI request for the CCTV footage of the incident.

The BTPA is the oversight body of the BTP and as such has no operational or investigatory role. Therefore, the BTPA does not hold the CCTV footage requested.
The footage is held by BTP and their position in respect of the request to release the CCTV is included in their statement.

If you are dissatisfied with the way that either the BTPA or BTP have responded to this FOI request you may make a complaint to the Office of the Information Commissioner https://ico.org.uk/

BTP Deputy Chief Constable Adrian Hanstock has announced his retirement from policing after more than 37 years’ service.

DCC Hanstock has made the decision to step down in 2021, having served in three different police forces, and running the operational and governance functions of British Transport Police for the last six years.

DCC Hanstock said: “I have been privileged to serve with some extraordinary people in remarkable and challenging environments, working with the best of the best. Having already worked beyond my expected retirement date after agreeing to an extension last year, I believe that now is an appropriate time for me to step aside and make space for the next generation of talented and committed people who can bring their own style, ideas and approach to current operational and leadership challenge.

“It has undoubtedly been the pinnacle of my career to lead the dedicated police officers, staff and Specials who work with our industry partners operating across England, Scotland and Wales to collectively ensure that the millions of people that pass through our care each day are protected and reassured by BTP’s specialist, highly-responsive policing.”

BTPA Chair Ron Barclay-Smith said, “Adrian was already a very experienced senior police officer when he joined BTP in 2014. BTP officers and staff have since benefitted from his leadership and wisdom and Adrian been instrumental in driving up the professionalism and reputation of the Force since that time.

“The Police Authority has greatly appreciated Adrian’s work with partners in the rail industry. His overall contribution has been huge, and his departure will be keenly felt by the Authority, his colleagues, officers, staff and by industry partners alike.”

DCC Hanstock has agreed a flexible date for his last day of service and BTPA expects to start the recruitment process for a new DCC later this year.