This strategy covers the period 2022-27 and has taken account of the risks and opportunities over this time. The years covered by the strategy will see long-term changes to passenger journeys and ways of working influenced by the pandemic, the first steps in the Government’s ambitious programme of rail reform, an increase in freight traffic, and the delivery of new services. All of these factors will influence the demand for our policing services, how those services are accessed, how we deliver them and the partnerships through which we achieve success.
Our priorities
Our strategy is framed around our vision and mission and will be delivered through 6 objectives:
- Crime prevention and safeguarding to Reduce the likelihood of people coming to harm on the railways
- Target our efforts to ensure fewer victims of the most serious crime
- Innovate and collaborate with our partners to reduce disruption
- Build the trust and confidence of passengers and rail staff to defeat criminality together
- Generate value for money through the exploitation of technology, adapting to meet the future
- Build a modern and inclusive Force where our people are well-equipped, well-trained, well-led, well-cared for and reflect the best of our communities
The context
We have based our strategy on the following assumptions:
- The railways, Underground, tram and metro systems will increase in their importance over the life of our strategy. Combined with the Government’s levelling-up agenda, connecting communities and environmental sustainability, these modes of transport will be critical to the UK economy.
- The railways will need to adapt to significant challenges; from the short-term need to build passenger confidence following the pandemic to adjusting to long-term changes in ridership. Financial pressures will remain considerable as rail providers adjust their business model to meet the new demand. In an uncertain environment, we must be agile in our approach to change.
- Britain’s railways are undergoing major reform through the Williams-Shapps proposals. The management of rail services will be transformed with the creation of Great British Railways and reform will deliver improvements to the passenger and freight customer experience.
- The ultimate success of rail will be dependent on more integrated and efficient services, better reliability, increased freight usage and an improved passenger experience that provides a feeling of safety and security.
- A safe and secure environment is the result of a partnership of policing, industry, security professionals, welfare organisations and the public. Rail reform provides the opportunity to deepen these partnerships to deliver policing and security in a more coordinated, effective and efficient way than ever before.