British Transport Police Authority

The British Transport Police Authority (BTPA) is responsible for ensuring an efficient and effective police force for the railways

With the passing of the Railways and Transport Safety Act 2003, the BTPA was established to oversee the British Transport Police (BTP), review its performance and allocate funding for its budget. It also deals with complaints, recruitment, and managing relationships with the rail industry.

The Authority is responsible for setting objectives for British Transport Police (BTP) before the beginning of each financial year. The BTPA announces these objectives, as well as its strategic direction and performance review of the Force by publishing its annual Policing Plan, Strategic Plan and its Annual Reports. The Policing Plan contains the Force’s priorities for the year and the financial resources expected to be available to deliver the plan. The Strategic Plan sets out the Authority’s medium and long-term strategies for policing the railways. At the end of each financial year, the Annual Reports cover the policing of the railways in that year. The BTPA is also responsible for recruitment of Chief Officers and BTP senior Directors.

Strategic Plan 2022-2027

BTPA will concentrate on crime prevention and safeguarding to reduce the likelihood of people coming to harm on the railways by prioritising: • Crime prevention by design, target hardening the railway environment to deter volume crime and anti-social behaviour. • An evidence-based approach to tackle each priority crime type, taking learning about

what works into how we police the railway. • Developing effective control strategies to tackle threat and harm. • Partnership with wellbeing agencies to protect those most vulnerable to harm or exploitation. • Maximise opportunities throughout the criminal justice system to increase positive judicial outcomes and deter offenders from using the rail network. • Visible policing targeting crime hotspots to provide reassurance to the public and rail staff.

BTPA will deliver a Counter Terrorism capability to play its part in keeping the underground and rail network safe. It will do this by targeting crime that is most harmful to the public, rail staff and the community, including serious and organised crime and exploitation. BTPA will also address the under reporting of sexual offending by making it easier for people to make reports and giving them confidence that those reports will be taken seriously.

Funding and budget

As well as billing the rail industry for the costs of running the BTP, the BTPA determines the budget of the police force and oversees large financial projects. The Authority maintains the accounts of BTP and has them audited each financial year. For 2021/22 the BTPA set a core policing budget of £328.1 million for policing Great Britain’s railways. A total of £255.5 million has been allocated to overground rail services and £72.6 million for London Underground.

Police Service Agreements

The BTPA enters into Police Service Agreements (PSAs) with TOCs and FOCs, PSAs require payment from the train companies to the BTPA in exchange for the policing of the railway and associated property.

When a new rail franchise is awarded by the Department for Transport, the winning company is usually required to enter into a new or existing PSA with the BTPA.

KEY PERSONNEL Chairman: Ron Barclay-Smith Deputy Chairman: Andy Cooper Chief Executive and Accounting Officer: Hugh Ind Chief Financial Officer, Deputy Chief Executive and Treasurer: Sarah Mcgarel Communications Manager: Katie Stanton Member Engagement Manager: Raquel Cortes

CONTACT INFORMATION Address: Ivason House, 8a London Bridge St. London, SE1 9SG Camden Street, London NW1 0EG Tel: 07900 394397 Tel – Media: 0300 123 9104. Email: general.enquiries@btpa.police.uk Visit: www.btpa.police.uk