Our aim is to keep you safe and secure while you travel. The Civil Nuclear Constabulary (CNC) (Welsh: Heddlu Sifil Niwclear) is a special police force responsible for providing law enforcement and security at any relevant nuclear site and for security of nuclear materials in transit within the United Kingdom. [citation needed], Similar schemes have been implemented elsewhere in the country, including a partnership with Network Rail and South West Trains (SWT) in which a BTP officer crews an "Emergency Intervention Unit", which conveys engineers and equipment to incidents on SWT's network using blue lights. : "Acting Special Inspector" or "A/SI". Officers in England, Wales and Scotland have now adopted the same uniform as the Scottish forces. [citation needed]. Although unlike police officers there is no formal transfer process. British Transport Police are the only special police force that employ police community support officers (PCSOs). throughout Great Britain for a purpose connected to a railway or to anything occurring on or in relation to a railway. Our mission is to create a safe railway environment, across the entire country, that is free from disruption and free from the fear of crime. [97][98], As of 2016, the BTP has 362 PCSOs. British Transport Police have said they will be reviewing the arrest of a teenager screaming in apparent pain at Kings Cross station, as concerned passengers filmed the incident. [citation needed], The police authority has agreed its budget for 2016/2017 at £298.6 million.[2]. Historical references (including those originating from the BTP itself) to when the first group of true "constables" was organised to patrol a railway should be treated with caution. 2. Our aim is to keep you safe and secure while you travel. I believe that the BTP may have no jurisdiction in NI may be down to the different legislation covering transport matters. It is responsible for overseeing the BTP. Constable is a consititional office in most Commonwealth countries, including the United Kingdom, and South Africa . Some specials may "act" the rank up above them. 457 talking about this. They were there to ‘police’ the various interests of British Railways, in freight, passenger and shipping services. [102], In 2006 PCSO George Roach became the first BTP PCSO to be awarded a Chief Constable's Commendation after he saved a suicidal man from an oncoming train at Liverpool Lime Street railway station. The government has put new public health regulations into place to help reduce the spread of the coronavirus (Covid-19). BTP operates two force control rooms and one call-handling centre: Both FCRL and FCRB house an events control suite, and a 'silver suite' incident control room is located in the South East for coordinating major incidents and as a fallback facility. The force participates in joint police initiatives, including on cable theft, the G8, the Olympics and so on. The unit carries TfL engineers to incidents on the London Underground, such as one unders and terrorist incidents. BTP constables (both 'regular' and special constables) are designated as law enforcement officers in the same way as members of a territorial police force under Chapter 5 of the Act. A BTP constable has the same powers and privileges of a constable of a territorial police force:[77], A BTP constable may only use such powers if he believes on reasonable grounds that if he cannot do so until he secures the attendance of or a request from a local constable (as above), the purpose for which he believes it ought to be exercised will be frustrated or seriously prejudiced.[77]. The first arrest abroad by the British police was made in 1874 when a Metropolitan Police inspector accompanied by a railway police inspector went to the United States to arrest an embezzler. In 2010, it was suggested that BTP take on VOSA traffic officers and Highways England traffic officers. Not many people will be aware that until the middle of the 1960’s there were British Transport Police officers stationed at North Wall, Dublin and also at Donegall Quay in Belfast, until the late 1980’s. [9] With BTP now playing a large role in counter-terrorism on the rail network, the force also receives some grants towards its firearms units. This is known as "Acting" and would be presented as; e.g. [53] Some vehicles within the unit are dual liveried, allowing TfL engineers to operate the vehicles without a police driver. [32] Other operators with whom the BTP has a service agreement also contribute appropriately. The industry membership represent five out of 13 members. In 1838 the Royal Mail was conveyed by rail for the first time. [22], Route crime[23] collectively describes crimes and offences of trespass and vandalism which occur on railway lines and can affect the running of train services. British Transport Police is the national police force for the railways providing a policing service to rail operators, their staff and passengers throughout England, Wales and Scotland. West Midlands Police and the Metropolitan Police also run specialist units that deal with buses - The Met calls it Safer Transport I believe. The police conducted 2,673 stop and searches under PACE Section 1 across the area covered by British Transport Police. Escape key not available with JavaScript disabled The rank structure for the Special Constabulary is slightly different than the regular structure and is listed below. Hon. The force crest still includes ports and harbours. 2 Days Are Never The Same. Prior to April 2014, BTP was divided into seven geographical basic command units (BCUs) which it referred to as 'police areas': Prior to 2007, there was an additional Midland Area and Wales and West Area; however, this was absorbed into the Wales and Western area and North Eastern area. We use cookies on this site to give you a better, more personalised experience. Indeed on the 1st January 1964 it set up its own 24 hour British Waterways Security Force. ACPO estimate that some 8,000 such incidents occur every year. On 1 July 2004 a police authority for the British Transport Police was created. I'm fairly certain that a police constable, being a servant of the crown and with a primary duty of keeping the monarch's peace, has the power of arrest in any part of the UK. All police officers in the United Kingdom are constables. This is the first mention of railway police anywhere and was three years before the Metropolitan Police Act was passed. [48], Designated custody suites have also been retained as over-spill facilities in London, but are not routinely open, at the following locations: Central London (ten cells), Wembley Park (nine cells), Hammersmith (four cells) and West Ham (four cells). a top hat and frock coat) to early police constables but were not directly concerned with law enforcement. This allows them to exercise maritime enforcement powers, including the powers of arrest for offences that could be subject to prosecution under the laws of England and Wales, Northern Ireland or Scotland, in relation to: Constables of the BTP are required by S.24 of the Railways and Transport Safety Act 2003 (and special constables of the BTP are required by S.25) to make one of the following attestations, depending on the jurisdiction in which they have been appointed: I...of the British Transport Police do solemnly and sincerely declare and affirm that I will well and truly serve the Queen in the office of constable, with fairness, integrity, diligence, and impartiality, upholding fundamental human rights and according equal respect to all people; and that I will, to the best of my power, cause the peace to be kept and preserved and prevent all offences against people and property; and that while I continue to hold said office I will, to the best of my skill and knowledge, discharge all the duties thereof faithfully and according to law. There is some true uniqueness about the British Transport police, which I think is treasured by the industry and stakeholders, and that is reflected in quite a bit of the feedback we have received about nervousness about some of these proposals.". There are also ongoing proposals backed by the Scottish government for BTP's Scottish division (D Division) to be merged with Police Scotland. [59] At the end of the trial period, in October 2013, the unit was reduced to eight officers; the other twelve returned to regular policing duties after TfL judged the results of the scheme to be less than conclusive. Your feedback helps us make things better, so please let us know what you think. The British Transport Police (BTP) is the specialist police service for Britain’s railways. The use of the blue lights on the unit's vehicles is subject to the same criteria as with any other police vehicle[50][51][52] In December 2013, TfL announced that the trial of blue lights had ended, and that ERU vehicles would retain blue lights, as BTP drivers had halved the unit's response time to incidents. Despite being invested with the powers of any other police officers, the jurisdiction of British Transport Police (BTP) is limited to the railways and matters related to them. [69] In December 2016, firearms officers commenced patrolling on board train services on the London Underground. There is a formal and operational uniform, with rank insignia, collar numbers and headgear remaining largely the same within each order of uniform. The first mail thefts were reported shortly afterwards. [25] The BTP maintains a graffiti database which holds over 1900 graffiti tags, each unique to an individual. In addition, BTP, in conjunction with the French border police – Police aux Frontières – police the international services operated by Eurostar.[10]. 1. When in England or Wales, arrest a person they suspect of committing a specified offence in Scotland or Northern Ireland, or the constable has reasonable grounds to believe that the arrest is necessary to allow the prompt and effective investigation of the offence or prevent the prosecution of the offence being hindered by the disappearance of the individual. The London Transport force joined in 1960. BTP specials do not wear the 'SC' insignia (a crown with the letters SC underneath) on their epaulettes unlike some of their counterparts in some Home Office police forces.[90]. 1 Amendment of the British Transport Commission Act 1949. Findings in respect of British Transport Police regarding recommendation 2 . [96] BTP PCSOs also utilise generally more powers than their counterparts in other forces. The BTPA sets the BTP’s long-term policing strategy and annual policing plans. harvnb error: no target: CITEREFHarrap1961 (, The Sharp End Issue 16 (published for the Home Office and sent to every police officer, SC and support staff in England and Wales), Anti-terrorism, Crime and Security Act 2001, s.100(2), London, Midland and Scottish Railway Police, Learn how and when to remove this template message, Anti-terrorism, Crime and Security Act 2001, section 139 of the Criminal Justice and Public Order Act 1994, Police and Fire Reform (Scotland) Act 2012, Police uniforms and equipment in the United Kingdom, List of police forces of the United Kingdom, "Police workforce, England and Wales, 31 March 2016", "Police workforce, England and Wales: 30 September 2020", "s.3(5) Serious Organised Crime and Police Act 2005", "Office of Public Sector Information Railways and Transport Safety Act 2003 (c. 20)", "British Transport Police's response to the funding challenge", "Transport Police (Jurisdiction) Act 1994", "Explanatory Notes to Railways and Transport Safety Act 2003 – Background – paragraph 59", "Transport police to be armed to counter terror threat", "Lewis Machine & Tool Company - Complete Weapon Systems", https://web.archive.org/web/20120926024528/http://www.rail-reg.gov.uk/server/show/nav.1129/, https://web.archive.org/web/20070927203018/http://www.rssb.co.uk/pdf/reports/ASPR_Full_05.pdf, http://www.btp.presscentre.com/content/Detail.asp?ReleaseID=1404&NewsAreaID=2/, "Project Guardian: making public transport safer for women", "Police workforce, England and Wales: 30 September 2017", "Anti-terrorism, Crime and Security Act 2001 Schedule 7", "Report on an announced inspection visit to police custody suites of the British Transport Police", "British Transport Police to downsize to just one London custody suite", "BTP's rapid response vehicles get 'bluelights, "Tube medic team cut after 'less conclusive' pilot - BBC News", "Emergency vehicle for faster response to railway incidents", "Police and engineer partnership to cut delays", "Joint Emergency Response Unit launched in Scotland", "Medically trained police officers to patrol Tube network", "Medically trained BTP officers deployed on the Tube - Transport for London", "Tube medical response team to be cut by more than half", "Why are we arming the British Transport Police? 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