Met police firearms

[Fedster + 1,307]

Chiefs quizzed over Police Scotland plans to take over BTP.

Comm Cressida Dick

 

Met Police Commissioner Cressida Dick says she is pleased plans for a national infrastructure police force have not moved ahead.

The concept would have seen British Transport Police merged with the Civil Nuclear Constabulary, MOD Police and possibly Highways England.

It appeared to have been dropped but was included in the Conservative Party’s 2017 election manifesto. But it has not been mentioned by ministers since.

Comm Dick told the Home Affairs Committee: “I’m very pleased, as I understand it, that the notion of infrastructure policing, BTP merging with other forces, is not on the table at the moment, I think that is sensible for a whole variety of reasons.

“There obviously are a number of high politics reasons why people want this move and we in the police will work with whatever we have to work with. But I don’t think we have done a published risk-benefit analysis of it from a [counter-terrorism] point of view.”

She had been asked about counter-terror implications of Police Scotland’s stalled takeover of British Transport Police in Scotland by Conservative Douglas Ross.

He noted “crime can start in Aberdeen and end in London”.

National Crime Agency Director General Lynne Owens said: “We have a very good close operating environment with Police Scotland, we think Gartcosh [multi-agency crime campus] is a model we’d like to see replicated elsewhere, we think it’s very impressive.

“Actually whether we engage BTP London and BTP Scotland or whether BTP Scotland is part of Police Scotland, we would make either system work.”

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[Ether + 1,401]

This is the right choice. 

[ParochialYokal 1,119]

I can understand the merits of CNC and MDP merging but BTP shouldn’t be part of that.

 

BTP are police. They are not security police. It is a great force and that would be lost in cooking pot if all three get chucked in.

 

MDP and CNC have similar missions and a similar (but far from identical) role. There are economies of scale to be achieved through merging the specialist capability of each. If that merger went well and there was a 5 year track record of delivery then that would be such a time to consider a more broader infrastructure constabulary.

 

 

[Ether + 1,401]

26 minutes ago, ParochialYokal said:

I can understand the merits of CNC and MDP merging but BTP shouldn’t be part of that.

 

BTP are police. They are not security police. It is a great force and that would be lost in cooking pot if all three get chucked in.

 

MDP and CNC have similar missions and a similar (but far from identical) role. There are economies of scale to be achieved through merging the specialist capability of each. If that merger went well and there was a 5 year track record of delivery then that would be such a time to consider a more broader infrastructure constabulary.

 

 

MDP are so far from what they were intended to be, they need a total make over or disbanding, they are too expensive for there output.  That certainly isn't a dig at the people, but the manner in which the organisation has drifted off intent.   The best thing the MoD could do if a merger was likely would be to get rid and start again, the loss of that funding to the MoD just wouldn't be worth it. 

MDP and CNC are very similar, they do not carry out day to day routine policing, all be it they do very occasionally.  

BTP are a police force the same as any other, the only difference being location, and a little better customer service. 

Edited June 9, 2018 by Funkywingnut

[ParochialYokal 1,119]

I think we are pretty much in agreement.

 

Nonetheless, the MOD could commission the service from an independent police force and that relationship could be managed through appropriate governance.

 

If MDP has suffered ‘mission creep’, it is not the fault of the MDP but the fault of the MOD. If an independent police force was created then appropriate checks and balances would ensure that such a force would continue to be fit for purpose.

 

[Ether + 1,401]

39 minutes ago, ParochialYokal said:

I think we are pretty much in agreement.

 

Nonetheless, the MOD could commission the service from an independent police force and that relationship could be managed through appropriate governance.

 

If MDP has suffered ‘mission creep’, it is not the fault of the MDP but the fault of the MOD. If an independent police force was created then appropriate checks and balances would ensure that such a force would continue to be fit for purpose.

 

The MoD realistically do not need the MDP to provide guarding, this can be managed far more cost effectively by using Military personnel. The last stats I saw in relation to the use of police powers used during guarding tasks were so low they didn't justify Police Officers and all the cost and regulations that go with it. 

The MDP management have unfortunately encouraged the mission creep, to the point they refuse to work within defence unless paid to do so, instead you will find MDP Officers sat around not gainfully employed, (Or thats how it was a couple of years ago).  They provide little actual policing to defence. 

In reality the MDP and Military police would be the more sensible amalgamation.  

Edited June 9, 2018 by Funkywingnut

[Radman + 2,163]

I am personally glad the infrastructure policing plan isn't going forward, alot of the cops in BTP I spoke to seemed to be in favour of It but in my opinion it wasn't the right fit for BTP as we operate differently to both MDP and CNC.

I do believe however BTP should be pushing at a national level to start policing some of our smaller ports/airports which currently receive very little police protection going back to a time when we did police other pieces of infrastructure. It seems crazy to me that we have ports of entry into the UK that are simply left unpoliced.

[Ether + 1,401]

4 hours ago, Radman said:

I am personally glad the infrastructure policing plan isn't going forward, alot of the cops in BTP I spoke to seemed to be in favour of It but in my opinion it wasn't the right fit for BTP as we operate differently to both MDP and CNC.

I do believe however BTP should be pushing at a national level to start policing some of our smaller ports/airports which currently receive very little police protection going back to a time when we did police other pieces of infrastructure. It seems crazy to me that we have ports of entry into the UK that are simply left unpoliced.

I would agree with this, BTP could easily take on the ports, I think the airports would be more challenging and probably a step to far without significant reorganisation of both BTP and HO Force who will be unwilling to relinquish the funding airports provide. 

[Radman + 2,163]

2 hours ago, Funkywingnut said:

I would agree with this, BTP could easily take on the ports, I think the airports would be more challenging and probably a step to far without significant reorganisation of both BTP and HO Force who will be unwilling to relinquish the funding airports provide. 

It's just whether or not the government would be willing to do it. Why our chief at a national level isn't pushing for further funding and expansion into Ports Policing especially since the BREXIT vote and the realisation our ports are largely left unprotected- far more sensible idea than Special Customs Officers.

[Ether + 1,401]

3 minutes ago, Radman said:

It's just whether or not the government would be willing to do it. Why our chief at a national level isn't pushing for further funding and expansion into Ports Policing especially since the BREXIT vote and the realisation our ports are largely left unprotected- far more sensible idea than Special Customs Officers.

Agree, makes sense, small independent forces simply do not have the capability and experience, a national force would resolve those issues. That and I have seen some pretty poor customs and immigration officers. But thats my experience.