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Just a general question to all HO forces, do response cops carry tourniquets at all? BTP have issued them out to all officers now. I know firearms carry them in most cases but no response officers, just generally wondered

I'm sure this question has been asked before. I'm due to start with btp in January and have been told that I need to buy my own boots. I'm looking for recommendations on what people have brought. I have looked at altberg p1. Along with the newer style blueline boots. Unfortunately no where has them in stock to try on. I manage to try on a pair of magnum viper Pro in millets which I have heard mixed reviews about on how long they last. The cost varies amongst boots. Which I don't mind. Just looking to get a pair that will last me for years

Real rise in officers experiencing problems, driven by cuts to numbers since 2010'. No time-outs: Modern policing lacks the capacity for officers to recover from stress, says DCC Rachel Kearton Date - 26th July 2019 By - Nick Hudson - Police Oracle 6 Comments Draconian cuts to officer numbers in the last decade have “driven” a dramatic two-thirds rise in the number of sick days taken by police officers because of mental health issues, a deputy chief claims. Days missed by officers due to psychological issues rose 69.4 per cent between 2013-14 and 2018-19, according to new Freedom of Information figures. The news comes in the wake of Police Oracle revealing last month more than 10,500 police officers across the UK took time off work for stress, depression, anxiety or post-traumatic stress disorder in the past year. But among the 33 forces which responded to the 5 News latest investigation, the total number of officers fell by 4.7 per cent, meaning the proportion of sick leave days for mental health issues rose by 77.7 per cent. The proportion of sick days for all other medical reasons rose by around four per cent over the same period, the investigation found. Suffolk Constabulary Deputy Chief Constable Rachel Kearton said the increase in sick leave taken for psychological issues partly reflects a greater willingness among officers to talk about mental health. But she also said there is a real rise in officers experiencing problems, driven by cuts to officer numbers since 2010. "There isn't that capacity that there may have been in the past to give people the opportunity to take a decompression period or time-out to recover from stressful incidents," she said. "That impact of constantly going from one traumatic incident to another, whereas previously officers did have that opportunity to take a bit of time out because there were other officers there that could do that job for them. "I don't have that opportunity to take somebody away from the front-line, and give them a break, give them some respite from whatever they've experienced. "They have to deal with a horrendous road traffic accident and the very next day, or the very same day, they have to deal with another one because there isn't that opportunity to give them a break." Some 32 of the UK's 43 police forces, as well as British Transport Police, responded to the request for information. The figures show there were 390,608 sick leave days for mental health issues last year, compared to 230,631 five years earlier. This equates to 19 out of every 1,000 working days taken as leave for psychological reasons in 2018-19, compared to 11 days per 1,000 in 2013-14. For all other categories of sickness, 33 days per 1,000 were taken as leave in 2018-19, compared to 32 per 1,000 in 2013/14. Sussex PC Ian Buckman developed PTSD after arriving first to a murder scene nearly a decade ago. He told 5 News: "I didn't tell anyone I was having the flashbacks, not even anyone at home... I was not really there in my head, it affected my work and my mood. "It definitely took a toll on family life, I became quite moody... quite snappy, tired, irritable and taking it out on the wrong people... my wife, my daughter, my parents. "At Christmas 2018 I literally came to breaking point before I did anything about it, between that Christmas and new year time the flashbacks had just become so bad, I was having no sleep, eventually I did speak to a colleague." The officer of 13 years took two months off work, underwent counselling and is now back to full duties after a slow return. "It has become easier, a lot of work has been done... the work that's been done around Backup Buddy UK has assisted in breaking down those barriers," he said. But PC Buckman added: "There's more demand for officers to be single crewed, which puts an additional pressure on people. "Assaults on police seem to be ever increasing, I've been assaulted myself twice in the last four months." A Home Office spokesman said: "Our police officers do an incredibly difficult job and we take their physical and mental health very seriously. "That is why we have given £7.5 million to the recently-launched National Police Wellbeing Service which will improve the support provided to police officers and staff.” View OnPolice Oracle

But deputy chief argues 'both officers were responding to challenging situation involving rail staff safety fears'. British Transport Police: Investigation conducted by the IOPC Date - 25th April 2019 By - Nick Hudson - Police Oracle 3 Comments Officers confronting “difficult judgments” over how much force to use when responding to people fearing for their safety is a continuing challenge to policing, a deputy chief believes. The argument comes in the wake of a split decision by a court that convicted one police constable of assaulting a man with a Taser while clearing a second involved in the same incident. British Transport Police PC Andrew Spiby had denied common assault after an incident at Derby railway station in May last year but was found guilty at Birmingham Magistrates' Court and will be sentenced on June 10. However, co-defendant PC John Severns was acquitted of a similar offence after a two-day trial. The court heard officers were called to reports of a disturbance involving a group of people on one of the station platforms. Two men were arrested at the scene and Derby-based PC Spiby deployed a Taser on one of the men, who also had incapacitant spray used on him twice by PC Severns. The Independent Office for Police Conduct said the case had been referred to them after the man involved complained about the level of force used on him, and the effect of the incident on other members of his family who were present at the scene. A report from their investigation found PC Spiby and PC Severns, from Nottingham station, had a case to answer for gross misconduct. IOPC regional director Derrick Campbell said: "This was a serious incident which was witnessed by onlookers, including several young people. "Police are entitled to use force but only if it is necessary, reasonable and proportionate in the circumstances. "The public have to have confidence that officers will conduct themselves appropriately and in this case the court took the view that Pc Spiby did not do so." But BTP Deputy Chief Constable Adrian Hanstock argued: "The use of force by police officers, including deploying a Taser device, can often be a difficult judgment and it is understandable that in some cases independent scrutiny is necessary. "However, it is important to remember that in this particular case, both officers were responding to a challenging situation where members of rail staff feared for their safety, and called officers to assist. “That said, clearly on this occasion the court felt that excessive force was used and found PC Spiby guilty of common assault. PC Spiby now faces an agonising wait on the court sentencing hearing and possible misconduct hearing. DCC Hanstock added: “We will now review the findings of the court, and any potential misconduct action will be proportionate to the full circumstances the officers encountered." View On Police Oracle

Officers from British Transport Police were called to the station just before 9pm as a man wielding a knife stabbed members of the public. https://www.manchestereveningnews.co.uk/news/greater-manchester-news/manchester-victoria-knife-attack-station-15615253 Not a great start to the new year celebrations, I hope those injured are not serious and recover quickly.

Staff association says there are 'less risky, less complex and less costly' ways of devolving accountability. Date - 21st August 2018 By - Ian Weinfass - Police Oracle 4 Comments Opposition figures have called on the Scottish Government to revise its plans on merging British Transport Police into Police Scotland north of the border. Reports over the weekend, first appearing in The Scotsman, suggest ministers are re-thinking their plans to fully integrate the railways force into the national one. Scottish Labour, the Conservatives and BTP Federation have all since called for a re-think on the issue. The staff association wants the force to be retained in its current form but to be subject to increased accountability by the Scottish Government. Daniel Johnson, Labour’s justice spokesman, said: “Labour has consistently opposed this merger as it is unwanted, unnecessary and uncosted. “I hope reports are correct that [justice secretary] Humza Yousaf is finally listening to Labour, police officers and railway workers and looking for an alternative. “There is already one on the table brought forward by the British Transport Police Federation.” The Scottish Conservatives said on Facebook: “The SNP now needs to make clear exactly what it intends to do. “The merger plans are deeply unpopular, and opposed by officers, unions, train operators and passenger groups.” The BTP Federation said on the same site: “It would be absolutely the right decision to look at alternative options. There are other ways to achieve the principles of devolution which are less risky, less complex and less costly. “We would wholeheartedly welcome and support a re-think on this.” Timescales around the merger were extended due to complications in integrating IT systems and conditions of personnel. A spokesman for the Scottish Government said: “We have confirmed that our triple lock guarantee will protect jobs, pay and pensions for BTP officers transferring to Police Scotland. "There is a replanning exercise currently taking place. Once that is completed, we will ensure parliament is updated on our next steps. “We will never compromise the safety of the public." View On Police Oracle

Agency's ability to provide authoritative picture of threats undermined by other law enforcement bodies not sharing info, say HMIs. Opportunities to increase the law enforcement response against county lines drug dealers and other serious criminality may have been missed, according to the inspectorate. An HMICFRS report into the National Crime Agency found gaps in the organisation’s understanding of threats, partly because of a lack of information shared with it. A particular concern identified was with British Transport Police, which HMIs found did not provide its intelligence assessments to the NCA. The report says: “During our fieldwork we found that the force was not providing its intelligence assessments to the NCA, which undermines the NCA's ability to provide the single authoritative picture of threat. "There is a form of criminality [county lines] that adversely affects communities in various parts of the UK, where provision of British Transport Police intelligence could have enhanced the picture.” HMIs raised this problem with the railways force on two separate occasions and said the information sharing should begin with immediate effect. A charity estimates that around 4,000 teenagers in London are being exploited by county lines gangs. The inspectorate also says some regional organised crime units (ROCUs) were not sharing all their intelligence with the agency, with one even sending it to the wrong email addresses. “The ROCUs play a vital role in providing the aggregated intelligence picture in each region; incomplete or irregular submission of their intelligence should not be accepted,” it adds. The PSNI was also not routinely sharing its intelligence assessments with the body, but senior leaders told HMIs they will start to do so. The report concludes the NCA can fulfil its function only if other law enforcement bodies work with it while there are some gaps in understanding of the threat. It adds: “This is not insurmountable, but it can only be achieved through a refinement of the NCA's information-collection processes and a more consistent contribution of intelligence by law enforcement partners. “This is essential if the NCA is to achieve the single authoritative threat picture to which it aspires, and, more importantly, on the basis of which the national response to serious and organised crime is determined.” A British Transport Police spokesman said it has been working on the HMICFRS feedback for months. He said: “We know that county lines drug trafficking is a national issue and that BTP has a vital role to play in tackling offences. Since January this year, BTP assessed how the force was sharing intelligence with our partners and made a number of changes following recommendations from the HMICFRS. “Likewise, since last year, officers from BTP now attend daily tasking meetings with the NCA to ensure that concerns are immediately addressed and intelligence is shared swiftly. “By working closely with police forces nationally, including the NCA, we’re working to clamp down on county line offending and make the railway a hostile environment for criminals.” An NCA spokesman said: “We welcome the HMICFRS latest inspection into the NCA’s national tasking, coordination and governance arrangements, and its conclusion that these are generally working well. "The NCA has designated county lines a high priority, and is leading the national law enforcement response to it. "Over recent years we have worked continuously with partners to improve the picture of the threat from a relatively low base, and that has been an ongoing process. We now engage systematically and productively with ROCUs and police forces, including British Transport Police. "Together with the National Police Chiefs' Council we’re establish a County Lines Co-ordination Centre, and our role in that will chiefly include mapping the threat nationally and prioritising action against the criminals presenting the highest risk.” View On Police Oracle

Investigating officers showed 'disturbing lack' of knowledge of law, says tribunal. A retired chief superintendent has been awarded more than £40,000 after he was spied on by another police force. Gary Davies was subject to surveillance by British Transport Police (BTP) in 2016 which led to him being charged with five offences of sexual assault - charges he was later cleared of by a jury, a tribunal ruling said. The investigatory powers tribunal found that Mr Davies was subject to unlawful surveillance in the absence of any authorisation, contrary to the Regulation of Investigatory Powers Act (RIPA) 2000. In its ruling the tribunal said Mr Davies is a man "with an exemplary record and of unimpeachable character", adding he had been a chief superintendent in another force and holds a senior and responsible post with a local authority. Mr Davies left Avon and Somerset Police in 2012. He then started to work for Bristol Council, leading a team that supports troubled families in the city. The ruling said: "The tribunal concludes that this was very far from being a mere technical breach of RIPA. "It was a breach founded on ignorance that led to extremely severe and damaging consequences to the claimant. "The invasion of the claimant's right to privacy on the train by the BTP was exacerbated by his arrest in full view of fellow commuters; the prosecution and trial that in our judgment would in all probability not have taken place; the issue of a wholly unnecessary press release; the inexcusable ignorance of all the investigating officers of the requirements of RIPA; the attempt to make light of the breach by Superintendent Sedgemore; the absence of any evidence that efforts are being made to make good the widespread ignorance of BTP officers of the relevant law; and the absence of any apology or offer of amends." The tribunal made an award of £25,000 to reflect the gravity of the breach and the damage suffered by Mr Davies and a further award of £21,694 in respect of his defence costs, making a total of £46,694. The ruling said the case "revealed a disturbing lack of familiarity with the relevant requirements of RIPA by almost every officer who was involved.” DCC Adrian Hanstock from BTP said: "Investigations into allegations of sexual offences are complex and challenging inquiries, however we accept the tribunal's findings that in this case officers' standards of investigation and surveillance fell short of the quality we expect our officers to deliver. "As part of an internal review to establish what could be improved both organisationally and for officers in this case, one officer appeared before a misconduct hearing and was issued with a gross incompetency notice. "Another officer was issued a noticed regarding his unsatisfactory performance. Likewise we have sought advice from the Investigatory Powers Tribunal who hear complaints regarding the use of police surveillance. "We will now review the findings and comments made by the tribunal committee and consider how best to respond to them." View On Police Oracle

Hello I am new to this forum and am looking for help and advice on an interview coming with with BTP and looking for any pointers also are there in BTP soco on hear. Sorry if I'm positing in the wrong place Thanks Welshyguy

Target date for merger has been shelved. The merger of British Transport Police into Police Scotland north of the border will not go ahead in April next year. The merger was due to take place in 2019 despite a recent admission that terms and conditions, third party contracts and ICT would not be ready to transfer from the railways constabulary by the target date. But a statement from the Scottish Government says a revision of the timetable with “allow for enhanced engagement with officers, staff and their representatives on key issues, including pay and conditions”. No new target date has been set. Justice Secretary Michael Matheson said: “The Scottish and UK governments are working together to ensuring the legislation passed by Parliament last year is implemented as effectively as possible. “The benefits of a single command structure and improved access to the full range of capabilities of Police Scotland will be delivered for railway policing, providing an enhanced service to both the rail industry and travelling public. “While much has been achieved so far, we want to ensure a seamless transition which delivers continuity of service for rail users and staff. As I have previously said, any issues raised by the Joint Programme Board in their role as overseeing the project would be given due consideration. “While a later integration date is disappointing, it will provide all partners with the opportunity to enhance the process of engagement, in particular with officers, staff and their representatives on key issues.” Scottish Labour's Justice spokesperson Daniel Johnson called for the whole process to be shelved. He said: “This is a welcome u-turn at the 11th hour by the SNP. “Scottish Labour opposed folding BTP into Police Scotland from the start alongside officers, trade unions and experts – and it is welcome the SNP appears to have finally listened. “This delay reopens the debate about whether this foolish and misguided merger should go ahead at all given the distinctive nature and requirements of policing our railways.” View on Police Oracle

Officer well-being must not be overlooked, says Fed. DCC Adrian Hanstock Retention and rest day cancellations are still undermining British Transport Police workforce morale almost a year after HMIC raised the issue, the federation has claimed. In February 2017 HMIC inspectors found BTP was regularly cancelling officers’ rest days for “regular events”, resulting in an estimated £4-5 million annual overtime bill to cover “predictable demands.” The report, which was only published last month, said a BTP deployment programme, introduced to analyse how BTP’s frontline resources are being allocated, discovered frontline uniformed officers and staff weren’t well distributed geographically and did not have the right shift patterns to meet demand. In April 2017 new “corporate” rosters were introduced to help tackle the problem but the BTP Federation disputed Chief Constable Paul Crowther’s claims about the success of the new shift rotas. Divisional commands were allowed to propose their own rosters, which were rejected on the grounds they failed to meet demand. The proposed rosters would result in about 1,000 rest days being cancelled each month and 230 fewer officers and PCSOs available on Saturdays (a key day for the force), the federation was told. BTP Federation Chairman Nigel Goodband said CC Crowther has claimed the current roster is “already having a positive impact in officers' work/life balance and ability to plan time off with more certainty.” “This is at odds with the feedback we receive from officers. I accept rest day cancellations have reduced but there is still a long way to go and we regularly receive evidence of shift patterns being altered that would suggest it isn't as successful as described. “Our main concern remains the 'fatigue factor'. Although the rosters may meet demand, what is the impact on performance and more importantly, what about wellbeing?” He told Police Oracle although the new rosters have been designed to better meet peak demand times such as Saturdays, the knock-on impact on officers’ welfare has not been addressed. “The new rosters mean officers are working increased anti-social hours and the impact upon officers’ ability to perform should not be overlooked. “If you have a Saturday rest day cancelled the officer will want another Saturday back. But they may only get two weekends in nine off and it can be months before they can apply their additional rest day. “Officers are very busy, very tired and very committed, nonetheless the self-motivation, commitment and pride is wearing very thin. “Retention is also another issue that needs to be accounted for.” Deputy Chief Constable Adrian Hanstock, chairman of the Demand Programme, said the current shift variations were in fact implemented in response to a 2015 staff survey. He said the alternate rosters proposed by officers were turned down as “it would create the situation where too few officers would be on duty at key times of the week, particularly on Saturdays in order to meet the commitments of policing those travelling to and from football matches, leading to regular and unwelcome cancellation of rest days.” DCC Hanstock added: “Throughout the Demand and Resources Review programme there have been regular meetings and consultation sessions, including visits by the Chief Constable and Deputy Chief Constable to various locations across the country to gauge the effectiveness of the model. “In addition the BTP Federation meets regularly with the Chief Constable and has a standing place on the Demand Programme Board. “Since the rosters were introduced, cancelled rest days have reduced by a third. As a consequence of having a more consistent duties model, planning for major events enables rest changes to be advised at least 90 days in advance in line with police regulations. “Vacancies across the force and the impact of unplanned abstractions (i.e. sickness, short-notice leave, temporary promotions, etc.) will invariably mean shift times can be extended or changed at the last minute, however, it is unlikely that any roster pattern could accommodate this degree of unforeseen change across such a broad area of coverage.” A BTP spokeswoman said more than 200 probationers are expected to join the frontline over the next three months. More than 200 probationers will graduate from our training centre over the next three months and have been posted to frontline roles bringing additional operational resilience to meet the demand. View On Police Oracle

Labour peer suggests Westminster should refuse to give assets to Police Scotland in bid to halt amalgamation. Lord Ian Duncan Security issues and police morale must be taken into account during the process of bringing British Transport Police into Police Scotland, the UK government says. Lord Ian Duncan, a Conservative minister in the Scottish Office, addressed a debate on the break-up of the railways force. He told peers that a joint board working to bridge the positions the two governments will try to resolve issues around the integration. He said: “We need to know that terrorism and security issues are addressed head on - there can be no diminution in these. “We must recognise that this involves real police officers and that there can be no impact upon their wellbeing, their morale or their situation, and that they must be treated with respect throughout this process. “We must be cognisant of the no-detriment principle. Where there are costs, we must understand how those costs will be allocated fairly and appropriately. We must also recognise that they should not be unfairly or inappropriately placed elsewhere.” He was responding to several peers who had criticised the plan to merge the forces north of the border. Labour’s Lord George Foulkes called for the move to be scrapped, suggesting further devolution where BTP’s chief constable reports to the Scottish Parliament to be allowed. He even called for the UK government to block the change, voted for by the Scottish Parliament last year, by refusing to let Police Scotland have BTP’s Scottish property. “The integration cannot progress unless the secretary of state for transport agrees to transfer the assets of the British Transport Police in Scotland to the Scottish Government,” he said. “I ask the minister to get the transport secretary to say that he is reluctant to transfer these assets unless there is a sensible arrangement for devolution, along the lines that I have suggested. “That would be a bold action, but it is necessary if we are to stop the break-up of a successful policing organisation for party-political dogma.” He said he would not call a vote on the issue if Lord Duncan committed to making sure the views of the Lords were taken to the cross-government working board. The Scottish National Party, in power in Scotland, do not send politicians to the House of Lords as they oppose its unelected make-up so no peers defended its position. The 2014 Smith Commission on devolution gave the Scottish Government the responsibility for railways policing. A Scottish Government spokesman said: “We are fully committed to ensuring that policing in Scotland has a strong and robust future that delivers high safety standards for passengers, staff and the rail industry. “The integration of railway policing into Police Scotland, as approved by Parliament in June 2017, will provide a single command structure, with seamless access to wider support facilities and specialist resources of the second largest police service in the UK, providing an enhanced service to the rail industry and travelling public.” View On Police Oracle

Poor management of legislation which lacked proper consultation with the people actually doing the work. We have had a few issues with mental health recently that has left us fudging arrests for offences just to justify getting them to a safe place. To be fair I complete many Home Office/CoP courses and I could easily drop in to a DC role if a force would accept me. There is a massive Service Justice review beginning, I wouldn’t be surprised if much of the service system isn’t disbanded and some elements amalgamated. The review is well overdue defence wastes so much money on policing MDP are in the chopping block at the min, Defence are struggling to see the point in them and they are having to provide some much more comprehensive justification for their existence. Truth is we may see a new Defence policing organisation that is far more police and deployment orientated. I let people assume what they want, I spend my working life in nicks all over the country explaining I am actually a real cop as well.

BTP's shift pattern do not match peak demand, HMICFRS found. British Transport Police has been criticised for having a “limited knowledge” of crimes such as modern slavery and child sexual exploitation in an HMICFRS report. BTP was slammed for “incomplete” and “weak” understanding of current demand in a report into its efficiency, legitimacy and leadership released on Friday. “The force’s limited understanding of less obvious demand, including hidden crimes such as child sexual exploitation and human trafficking, also limits its ability to assess the full range of potential future demand,” the report stated. An estimated £4-5m is spent every year on overtime payments made to meet “predictable demands” and “regular events”, according to the report. A new deployment programme, introduced to analyse how BTP’s frontline resources are being allocated, discovered frontline uniformed officers and staff weren’t well distributed geographically and did not have the right shift patterns to meet demand. As a result, the force often cancelled officers’ rest days making “significant” overtime payments. There is a “small but persistent” backlog of intelligence reports awaiting assessment, the inspectors found, which is hampering BTP’s ability to make accurate decisions about its resources. Inspectors also found the force “does not actively seek intelligence about potential corruption.” “In addition, although the problem of abuse of authority for sexual gain is a priority for the force due to the high-profile nature of this kind of corruption, the force’s approach is still in the very early stages of development.” BTP’s financial and efficiency plans were judged “unsatisfactory” and stated it “does not yet have adequate plans to reduce costs.” BTP was told to slash its spending by at least eight per cent by 2020, without affecting operational capability in the government’s 2015 spending review. But inspectors said: "At the time of our inspection, the force’s financial and efficiency plans were unsatisfactory. “We found little evidence that the force’s planning had taken account of predicted levels of future demand, workforce capabilities or longer term plans for ICT or estates. This means that the force cannot yet prioritise areas for investment in the future, “ the report said. “The force has identified that its information technology (IT) needs urgent and significant improvement. “We agree. “A clear, realistic and costed IT plan needs to be put in place quickly to address this,” inspectors added. BTP was praised for working hard to make sure it treats the people it serves with “fairness and respect.” “The force understands the importance of this, and seeks feedback from the communities it serves in a range of ways…the difficulties of doing this should not be underestimated, given the different groups the force serves and the transient nature of the largest of these, the travelling public.” “It clarifies and reinforces acceptable behaviour, and officers and staff are confident about reporting concerns to their supervisor. “We found that the force has a clear process for prioritising its activities and setting out its levels of service for the public, which is informed by the expectations of the public and other interested parties. These priorities are very well understood by officers and staff at all levels of the force.” BTP was also commended for “recognising the important of a diverse workforce.” “It has developed programmes to encourage people in its leadership team who have a diverse range of protected characteristics (such as age, gender or sexual orientation).” HMICFRS decided not give headline judgements on BTP’s production as “direct comparisons with Home Office forces…are difficult and liable to be misleading.” BTP Chief Constable Paul Crowther said he welcomed the report. He said: “We’re proud to see inspectors praising the way we treat people we come into contact with each day. It’s something we very much pride ourselves upon. “In the past year alone, we’ve policed football games every weekend, made more than 1,800 life saving interventions to help suicidal people and our officers were at the forefront of the horrific attacks at Manchester and London Bridge. Our search teams also worked under incredible pressure during other incidents like the Croydon tram derailment and at Grenfell Tower, whilst officers across the force rose to the challenge of the country’s threat level being raised to critical twice. CC Crowther added: “We have nominated people identified [for improvement] in each area highlighted in the report, and plans are already in place to make sure every HMIC recommendation is addressed as soon as possible. “In particular, we are focussing extensive time and resources into enhancing the way we are able to spot the signs of vulnerability – be that a missing child, a victim of Child Sex Exploitation or a victim of modern slavery. “Over the last few years, we’ve seen the railway environment changing – passenger numbers have increased significantly, stations are becoming busy entertainment hubs with shops and bars, and our officers are facing more challenges than ever before. “As the environment changes, we are adapting and changing to match that demand and ensure that BTP is in the best possible position to keep the travelling public, and those who work on the railway, safe.” View On Police Oracle

MSPs have passed legislation aimed at merging railway policing north of the border into Police Scotland. The Railway Policing (Scotland) Bill is the first step towards the national force taking on the role of British Transport Police (BTP). There had been a lengthy debate over the plan, with police bosses warning it could be "massively complicated" and "a real challenge". The bill passed by 68 votes to 53, with the Greens backing the SNP. Labour and the Conservatives have opposed the merger and the bill throughout, and the Lib Dems - who had supported the legislation in the stage one vote in order to pursue amendments at committee stage - also voted against the bill. Look back on the stage three debate and vote on Holyrood Live The Scottish government has long wanted to integrate railway policing services into the single national force, and tabled a bill to that end in December 2016. The Railway Policing (Scotland) Bill confers extra powers on the Scottish Police Authority and the Police Service of Scotland, but further legislation would be needed at Holyrood and Westminster to transfer staff, properties and cross-border policing functions. The Scottish government insists the integration will provide "efficient and effective" delivery of policing. However, there has been debate over the plan, with concerns ranging from how cross-border services would be affected to the potential dilution of the special skills of transport officers. The BTP wanted to continue providing railway policing in Scotland, but with oversight from Holyrood rather than Westminster. Chief Constable Paul Crowther warned MSPs that a merger could present a "real challenge" in replacing officers amid a "significant outflow of expertise". However, Police Scotland's Assistant Chief Constable Bernard Higgins told the justice committee the move was not a "land-grab" by his force, saying the transition would be "complicated, but not insurmountable". 'Absolutely committed' After a series of votes on amendments during the stage three debate, Transport Minister Humza Yousaf said the "primary objective" of the move was to "maintain and enhance high standards of safety". He said the bill would improve accountability of railway policing in Scotland, and said he remained "absolutely committed" to backing staff. The Scottish Conservatives opposed the plans, with MSP Oliver Mundell describing the merger as "an ill-judged and ill-thought out idea". He added: "The list of those with concerns is almost as long as the Scottish government's list of excuses on policing matters." Image copyrightBRITISH TRANSPORT POLICE MSPs have passed legislation aimed at merging railway policing north of the border into Police Scotland. The Railway Policing (Scotland) Bill is the first step towards the national force taking on the role of British Transport Police (BTP). There had been a lengthy debate over the plan, with police bosses warning it could be "massively complicated" and "a real challenge". The bill passed by 68 votes to 53, with the Greens backing the SNP. Labour and the Conservatives have opposed the merger and the bill throughout, and the Lib Dems - who had supported the legislation in the stage one vote in order to pursue amendments at committee stage - also voted against the bill. Look back on the stage three debate and vote on Holyrood Live The Scottish government has long wanted to integrate railway policing services into the single national force, and tabled a bill to that end in December 2016. The Railway Policing (Scotland) Bill confers extra powers on the Scottish Police Authority and the Police Service of Scotland, but further legislation would be needed at Holyrood and Westminster to transfer staff, properties and cross-border policing functions. The Scottish government insists the integration will provide "efficient and effective" delivery of policing. However, there has been debate over the plan, with concerns ranging from how cross-border services would be affected to the potential dilution of the special skills of transport officers. Image captionTransport Minister Humza Yousaf said the government had "listened closely" to concerns about the plans The BTP wanted to continue providing railway policing in Scotland, but with oversight from Holyrood rather than Westminster. Chief Constable Paul Crowther warned MSPs that a merger could present a "real challenge" in replacing officers amid a "significant outflow of expertise". However, Police Scotland's Assistant Chief Constable Bernard Higgins told the justice committee the move was not a "land-grab" by his force, saying the transition would be "complicated, but not insurmountable". 'Absolutely committed' After a series of votes on amendments during the stage three debate, Transport Minister Humza Yousaf said the "primary objective" of the move was to "maintain and enhance high standards of safety". He said the bill would improve accountability of railway policing in Scotland, and said he remained "absolutely committed" to backing staff. The Scottish Conservatives opposed the plans, with MSP Oliver Mundell describing the merger as "an ill-judged and ill-thought out idea". He added: "The list of those with concerns is almost as long as the Scottish government's list of excuses on policing matters." Image captionThe bill was passed by 68 votes to 53 Labour's Claire Baker also spoke out against the plan, warning of a loss of expertise and saying: "The Scottish government have ignored concerns of staff and unions". Her colleague Neil Bibby, who moved a series of amendments to the bill, said it was "shocking" that the government was "ignoring the views of our police officers". Lib Dem MSP Mike Russell said the merger was the riskiest of three options put forward, saying that ministers had decided that the majority of those in the policing sector who opposed the move were wrong. However, Green member John Finnie said his party would support the bill on the condition there was no detriment to staff. Commenting after the bill was approved, Justice Secretary Michael Matheson said: "With this move we are ensuring that policing on Scotland's 93 million annual rail journeys is fully accountable to the people of Scotland and our parliament. "Making this change gives our railway officers access to the specialist resources of the UK's second largest police force including, crucially, counter-terrorism capabilities." http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-scotland-politics-40404532

A foul-mouthed yob verbally abused police for 14 minutes in a sickening tirade after a meltdown on a train. Full Story - Daily Mail What a foul mouthed idiot, 56 year old man with such a foul mouth.

I wasn't sure about starting a new topic to be honest but thought this touched on general issues within Policing rather than the specific debates from today re arming etc. Although he is not a current officer I felt that it's quite refreshing to see such frank honesty about the state of Policing and resource levels. Interesting tone in the interview where Peter Kirkham actually says the government are ''lying'' Not sure if other people had seen this earlier ?

Anti- terrorism posters distributed by British Transport Police (BTP) in London have been taken down over rows the design resembled Nazi propaganda. Full Story -GetWestLondon

Terror review suggests London police forces should merge By Nick Beake Home Affairs Correspondent, BBC News 28 October 2016 London Armed Response Vehicle (ARV) officers during a Marauding Terrorist Firearms Attack Training exercise Image caption The review makes a total of 127 recommendations A major review of London's ability to deal with a terror attack has suggested the three police forces serving the capital could be merged. Lord Harris of Haringey said the Home Office should consider combining the Met Police, the City of London Police and the British Transport Police (BTP). The review was ordered by mayor Sadiq Khan to assess London's security. Met Commissioner Sir Bernard Hogan-Howe said there was "good argument" for a merger, but others had concerns. Saying the current set-up was "confusing" and the move would save money, Sir Bernard added: "We should get improved operational effectiveness and that's what this report is talking about: how to respond to a terrorist incident - would we respond better together? And I think we would." But the City of London Police said the paper itself had noted that merging forces would cause "significant disruption". In his review Lord Harris, a security adviser who chaired the Metropolitan Police Authority, concluded that any response to a terror attack would now be "substantially faster and more effective" than five years ago. Mayor of London Sadiq Khan and Lord Harris during a routine operation with British Transport Police officers Image caption The mayor announced the review with Lord Harris at Liverpool Street station in May But, he said, even though the intelligence agencies and the counter-terrorist police operating in London were among the best in the world, the city should be prepared for an attack with multiple fatalities. The review also found that, once the Met had completed its recruitment of 600 extra firearms officers, there would be no need for a further increase. To do so "would be at the cost of transforming the look and feel of our capital city", it said. A total of 127 recommendations were made in the paper. line Recommendations included in the review Armed police outside Downing Street A London-wide pilot of technology where all phones are sent a message alerting of a major attack Increasing the number of firearms instructors so marksmen can be trained quicker A comprehensive review of safety and security on the River Thames, commissioned by the mayor, to report by May 2017 A review of perimeter security at London City Airport - flights were disrupted last month after protesters gained access to the runway The capacity of London's major trauma centres should be reviewed Bolster mental health services to support those at risk of radicalisation. Security guards and bouncers should be trained to help prepare against an attack There should be four dedicated 24/7 Hazardous Area Response Teams and a similar number of Mass Casualty Vehicles strategically located around London All London schools to have a plan for how to prepare for a terrorist attack line Lord Harris also said live CCTV streaming should be extended across London. Earlier this year Mr Khan intervened after Westminster Council announced it would turn off its fixed CCTV cameras to save money. City of London Police said it welcomed the review but warned against merging it with the Met. "As the report clearly states, policing in London needs stability and certainty, not upheaval and disruption," they said. The BTP's Paul Crowther welcomed the report but said: "Over the past eight years, there have been a number of studies that have examined the rationale and effectiveness of a dedicated transport police force. "Each study has unequivocally concluded that there is a need for a specialist national force, which can provide 'end to end' policing and an understanding of this complex environment. "Terror review suggests London police forces should merge https://www.google.co.uk/amp/www.bbc.co.uk/news/amp/37794847?client=ms-android-orange-gb

http://www.btp.police.uk/advice_and_information/tackling_crime/trespass/national.aspx Pretty horrible to watch, though the footage was released with consent from the IP and the driver/crew on board the train.

This is being discussed in the 'other place' as it appears to have reared it's head again after the original 2008 proposals: http://www.civilnuclearpolicefederation.org.uk/pubs/infrastructure.pdf Home Office briefing on Infrastructure Policing Project In November of last year, the Government published the Strategic Defence and Security Review which included a commitment to “integrate infrastructure policing further and to review the options to do this”. The functions of British Transport Police, the Ministry of Defence Police (MDP), the Civil Nuclear Constabulary (CNC), the Highways England Traffic Officer Service (HETOS) and the Home Office police forces’ strategic road network and airports policing capabilities are all within scope of the Review. Subsequently, Phase 1 of the Review, which took place during last autumn, recommended that the following two options be explored: (i) a National Infrastructure Constabulary which would combine the functions of Civil Nuclear Constabulary, the Ministry of Defence Police, the British Transport Police, the Highways England Traffic Officer Service, the Home Office police forces' strategic road network and airports policing capabilities and (ii) a Transport Infrastructure Constabulary and an Armed Infrastructure Constabulary. The Transport Infrastructure Constabulary would bring together the functions carried out by the British Transport Police, the Highways England Traffic Officer Service and the roads and airport policing elements of Home Office forces. The Armed Infrastructure Constabulary would involve the incorporation of functions currently carried out by the MDP and the CNC. The Home Secretary agreed with the two option recommendation. Each of the options is to be pursued equally and developed into a full business case.The circulation of this communication to our members coincides with the beginning of Phase 2 of the Review. The infrastructure Policing Project "has the potential to significantly change the current landscape of policing: increasing the effectiveness of our infrastructure policing while driving out efficiencies." The Review is being led by the Home Office and the intention is to report back to Ministers this summer. The Review team includes secondees from each of the forces in the scope and will work closely with senior police representatives. The Civil Nuclear Police Federation, along with the Defence Police Federation and British Transport Police Federation are being briefed by a Stakeholder Group consisting of senior policing partners and senior officials from the relevant government departments who provide expert input to the project. The three Federations are encouraged by the work of the project and will work constructively with all participants to deliver its objectives. Our statutory remit as Federations is 'welfare and efficiency' and we will be looking at all times to act in the best interests of our members. We will keep you informed on developments. Should Ministers decide to proceed to implementation of one of the options or a variation of them there will also be a formal consultation stage which would directly involve the Federation.

Just came across this video and thought the forum would love a new video to discuss.. EDIT: Video under investigation by IPCC for alleged racial discrimination - probably best not to discuss in a public forum for now!

Recorded about 2002/3. Classic!

January 17, 2016 4:40 pm Police use new tactic to fight terror threat in City of London Conor Sullivan Waiting to meet City of London police officials on Blackfriars Bridge to hear about a new crime-fighting technique, the FT stops to jot down a few notes. Soon enough a police officer, sporting an assault rifle, appears to ask why exactly this reporter is taking notes. This, it turns out, was an unwitting example of Project Servator at work — a new tactic to make life difficult for terrorists doing their homework, or “hostile reconnaissance” as the police describe it. It involves using undercover officers trained in behavioural analysis to spot people who might be scoping out sites for a potential terrorist attack. Their expertise is in noticing the subtle, sometimes unconscious ways in which people behave differently when they are stressed or anxious. They are stationed in a certain area just before the appearance of other officers in hi-vis uniforms and sometimes those on horses, with dogs or heavily armed. http://on.ft.com/1PjFAZ1 or http://www.ft.com/cms/s/0/23e02e12-ba06-11e5-b151-8e15c9a029fb.html#axzz3xcFkm5Rp (if you're not an FT subscriber, try googling the title and clicking the link that google gives you...)