There are 10,000 miles of railway track and around 2,500 railway stations in Britain. Not many people know that – except the railway buffs, and the British Transport Police. For despite their all encompassing name, their beat is solely those miles of iron tracks and the 2,500 buildings associated with them, together with a rag bag of Eurostar, the Croydon tram link, the underground, and the Docklands Light Railway. Not bus stations, or garages, or motorway miles – just the bits of transport that run on iron tracks.

There is nothing dishonourable about being a ‘British Transport Policeman’ – someone has to do it, but it is hardly the glamour end of policing, and unlikely to attract the cream of the crop when it comes to potential policemen.

“You go home with a real buzz if you have been able to help someone; take the case of the elderly gentleman I had who could not remember where he was staying.  After some time I found his hotel key, found out where it was and we took him back there.  It turned out that his family were desperately worried about him and were very grateful for our help.  It was very rewarding to be able to help in a situation like this.”

All very fulfilling and worthwhile, but hardly cutting edge policing.

The British Transport Police recruitment web site gives some hints about the recruitment process:

‘If, you are asked to provide character references […]..This is usually only required when you do not have employment references’.

Presumably if you have an unbroken record of two years stacking shelves in Poundsavers, you can miss out this requirement?

You will be vetted to ‘BC’ level, which as the acronym implies is ‘Basic Check’ level.  A Basic Check or BC (now called BPSS by the Defence Vetting Agency – Baseline Personnel Security Standard) is a minimum standard of checks required which recently also includes a CRB disclosure check but interestingly BPSS, is not in itself a national security clearance.

What does a Baseline Personnel Security Standard check involve?
A BPSS involves a check of identity documents and employment/education referees.

Having grown up in the Britain of Dixon of Dock Green, and the cuddly image of policemen as walking talking wristwatches, I find it alarming that any section of the police force should be ‘routinely armed’ with semi-automatic guns, without widespread debate.

That it should be the British Transport Police of all divisions, defies belief.

Apparently the Home Secretary has ‘agreed’ with the Chief Constable of the British Transport Police that henceforth those charged with ensuring you take your feet off the seats, and remove your chewing gum from under the table, will be doing so from behind the other end of a semi-automatic Heckler and Koch MP5.

Specialist firearms officers on call where needed are one thing, routinely arming the Transport Police is another.

Jump over the ticket barrier at your own risk……..

Discuss.

Adrian Dwyer
June 28, 2011 at 13:32

Why is it that only the ignoraneous twats who have a ‘thing’ about the
police in general and obviously from the comments absolutely no idea what
standards, training, powers etc the BTP have who make comments?

Adam
Collyer May 27, 2011 at 23:08

If you read the article you will find this:

“The force, which protects the rail, tube and urban metro systems, has
2,900 officers and the proposals are said to giving around 100 specialised
firearms training.”

So it’s not routinely arming the transport police, and the 100 chosen
officers will have extra training. Good night all.

Hysteria May 26, 2011 at 16:28

and from this side of ther pond – a story about the problems with badly
trained armewd police forces..

http://pajamasmedia.com/blog/americas-overmilitarized-police-claim-another-innocent-life/

Rob May 25, 2011 at 09:58

My local train station is 500m from the local police station. One day on
the platform an old man was wandering up and down trying feel up the skirts of
the shoolgirls who were clearly frightened. No-one did anything (had they seen
it all before?). He seemed to know that people would be too timid to stop him.
I was about to punch him in the face but thought I’d be the criminal in that
scenario so I just went up and shouted abuse in his face about what he was
doing etc and he nearly shat himself . I blocked his route out from the
platform and called the local police station.

“Did this incident happen on the platform Sir?” came the tired standardised
response.
“Yes” I said thinking they just wanted to know the location to
pick him up?
“Your nearest Officer is at least half an hour away Sir, do
you consider this an emergency?”
“But the Police station is just round the
corner can’t you just come and pick him up?” I replied getting
angrier.
“I’m sorry Sir this is a matter for the BTP not our police
service? Are there any other witnesses present who can verify your account
Sir?”
I looked around at the empty platforms having missed my train to
detain the pervert, no-one else had bothered to stay, better things to
do?
Eventually they agreed to ask the BTP to send an officer down the line.
At this point I was late for work, I had important (some excuse) meetings to
go to and, to my great shame, I got on the next train to work and left the old
perv to escape. Having no confidence that an officer would arrive in the next
10 hours let alone 30 mins.

I now look back on that empty platform and wish I had dished out some
justice of my own on that weak old man. It is an empty wish I know. But tht
was the day I realised that the Police are not there to help anyone but
themselves.

Cascadian May 25, 2011 at 18:09

The correct procedure in this situation is to advise the local plod that
you have just shot the pervert, no waiting required.

Olly May 25, 2011
at 06:04

Anna,

I’ve had quite a few run ins with the BTP, and of all the people I know am
the most likely to need surgery to remove caps from my ass if any BTP “unit”
should be armed. I’ve only ever come across one BTP officer who was any type
of decent, and I dread to think what they’d be like if they were armed.

In my experience (and I’m being a little biased here, because I do goad
them a lot) BTP officers are generally rude, on a power trip and have immense
delusions of grandeur when it comes to how important they really are.

My absolute biggest gripe with them m though is that when you boil it down
they’re in charge of policing the railway by-laws, which are outdated and
favour the TOCs (train operating companies) effectively making the BTP revenue
enforcers/collectors for part private companies. I’d be more favourable of
armed BTP units if the by-laws were amended/updated drastically first.

Don’t even get me started on Rail Enforcement Officers. If you think PCSOs
abuse their position you ain’t seen nothing yet. Woman on a Raft covered
something about this here:

http://womanonaraft.blogspot.com/2010/07/sir-olly-and-imaginary-police-officers.html

That was my first ever run in with the BTP/REOs and Southeastern. They’re
regretting it now because I’m a constant source of annoyance to them. So much
so I’ve been detained twice since, once for “inappropriate behaviour” (filming
a Southeastern director at a public meeting they arranged) and once for
failing to show my ticket. (I had one, but out of principle for their crap
service refused to show it). In the second instance a ticket inspector thought
he had the authority to over power and then assault me.

I think we should lobby government for REOs and ticket inspectors to be
armed too. Could make a few interesting stories more interesting
)

Cheers
Olly

john malpas May 25, 2011 at 01:55

Possible they will be the cheapest instant response people if terrorists
have another go at the railways.
No good having a cupboard full of machine
guns for real police when the train is already under attack. Too late you
see.

John Leon May 24, 2011 at 23:58

I wonder how intense their training will be? I cannot imagine it will be
anything like the Sniper courses for the Military let alone the Special
Forces; the thought of panicking BTP clones shooting up a train load of
drunken footie fans and the pathetic lies and excuses and pre determined
whitewash by the powers to be makes me very glad I no longer live in the
U.K.

Somewhat alarmed
May 24, 2011 at 22:29

I’ve always found the BTP to the most obnoxious of the obnoxious. God knows
how this power will go to their little wooden-tops. What next? School crossing
ladies? Traffic wardens?? Yetch…….

Old Slaughter
May 24, 2011 at 21:39

Need more details. I am fairly confident that they would form an elite
section within their ranks to carry out the tasks. Still what standard are the
elite of the BTP? Even following a deal of training.

Gildas theMonk
May 24, 2011 at 20:29

I thought word on the street amongst the spooks was that Bin Laden & Co
were planning a 9/11 style attack on trains. However, I would be surprised if
this worked, on the grounds that trains hardly ever go anywhere if it is (a)
windy (b) wet (c) too hot (d) too cold (e) a weekend (f) a week day
.
Although to be fair I used to enjoy dinner on the 4.15 from Leeds to
London on a Friday – one of the more civilised means of passing the time!

VAM May 24, 2011 at 18:18

Slightly OT, but I heard today that the Belgians are going to play ‘ Lady
Gaga’s’ latest album on their rail network – it will heighten commuter’s
optimism apparently.
Radio station?

Ex Community Service
Supervisor May 24, 2011 at 17:24

It would be interesting to know if they were to be armed with hollow point
ammunition as well. After it took 11 x 9mm in the brainpan to ensure that Mr
Menendez did not get up again, I understand that hollow points are now
standard issue to the met. For a demo,
view
herehttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sYigC49tnh8

Engineer May 24, 2011 at 16:42

To be fair, Anna, I don’t think they give just any old Transport copper a
gun, especially not in the early part of his service. This is more likely to
be a provision to arm some coppers in some parts of the country when threat
levels justify it.

I gather that some years ago, only one police force in Britain was
authorised to carry sub-automatic weapons, and that was the force charged with
the security of some nuclear establishments. They weren’t armed all the time,
they just had access when required. Since then, conditions have changed
somewhat for many other police forces. I dare say that the upcoming olympics
have given cause for a great deal of activity behind the scenes for several
security services.

Angry
Exile May 24, 2011 at 16:18

Where they go next should be the main concern. Here we have armed cops, and
they’ve been routinely armed since day one as far as I know. And we have armed
security guards as well if they’re doing cash transport etc, and I don’t think
I’ve ever heard when that started. Now we’re getting a Melbourne version of
the British Transport Police though it’s really just night patrols for the
dodgiest stations, and even though they’re not actually proper cops – unlike
the BTP who are real police but with an unglamorous remit – they’re getting
guns too. This has caused a few waves but assuming they’re responsible and
don’t go and shoot someone or themselves accidentally I expect people will get
used to it. It’ll be just another subset of responsible law abiding citizens
who, unlike other responsible law abiding citizens, can be trusted with a gun.
But only while they’re on the clock of course – everybody knows they turn into
deranged nutters as soon as they go home for the day and can’t be trusted with
a gun again until they put the uniform on for their next shift.

JuliaM May 24,
2011 at 17:57

“… unlike the BTP who are real police but with an unglamorous remit
…”

I always thought of the BTP as composed mainly of those too thick or
unfit to get a job with the real police…

Somewhat
alarmed May 24, 2011 at 22:39

Indeed, Julia. But the really sad thing is, they don’t know this and
even have the delusional abilities to think themselves superior to regular
police. It’s frightening how ignorant these PCSO wannabees can be.

Angry
Exile May 25, 2011 at 13:52

Still real police with real powers of arrest, just like any other
British cop. The only difference is the force’s remit. They’re more like
the Civil Nuclear Constabulary except they have to deal with trainspotters
rather than unwashed nuclear power protesters. Well, unless the protesters
are on the way to Sellafield by train.