Dozens of British transport police stations could close despite rise in assaults | police

Dozens of British Transport Police (BTP) stations across England are likely to close as assaults on passengers reach record levels, reducing the number of officers protecting the railways.

BTP officials have ordered a hiring freeze and warned that some bases may have to close, suggesting job losses could occur after failing to secure enough funding to meet current commitments.

The move comes as assaults on passengers and members of the public on mainline railways rose 17 per cent on the previous year to 9,542 in 2023-24, according to the latest figures from the regulator, the Office of Rail and Road.

Transport police have attributed the alarming rise in part to increased train use since Covid and the ease of reporting crimes through smartphone apps, but the number of assaults is now around 50 per cent higher than before the pandemic.

More than three quarters of reported assaults were harassment incidents or general assaults involving threats of physical violence.

Despite the worsening situation, BTP said it was inevitable that underfunding would mean there would be fewer officers and staff available to respond to crime and incidents in the future.

Next year's military budget, largely funded by state-owned railways, will increase by 4.6%, less than half the increase claimed by BTP and millions less than it said was needed to sustain all bases. open.

Lucy DOrsi, chief constable at BTP, said: The funding settlement agreed by British Transport Police for 2025-26 leaves the department $8.5 million short of current commitments. Inevitably this means we will become a smaller organization with a reduced presence across England, Scotland and Wales.

We are working quickly to develop plans to take into account this financial settlement and will be able to share further details in due course.

BTP said the cuts were likely to result in some stations across England, Scotland and Wales no longer being able to remain operational.

We are committed to keeping everyone who uses and works on the railway safe. But we now need to consider how we can best meet future demand, including reviewing the viability of some police stations.

According to the TSSA rail union, which includes BTP employees, almost 300 jobs could be lost from a force of 3,000, with up to 17 stations set to close and several stations in the north of England potentially disappearing from existence between the city and Preston. there is. The Granite City.

TSSA Secretary-General Maryam Eslamdoust called on Transport Minister Heidi Alexander to intervene, urging the government to prioritize the safety of passengers and transport workers and fully fund the BTP to ensure the rail network remains a safe and efficient means of transport for all. urged to do so. .

She said reducing police numbers could put women and girls at particular risk.

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As well as concerns about the safety of passengers and staff, rail operators fear these cuts will lead to increased disruption to train services. An important role of the BTP is to respond to reports from drivers and station staff of trespassing on the railway. This can cause trains to often be delayed or stopped, including potential attempts by people to commit suicide.

A senior industry official said: “We understand and appreciate budget constraints, but we are concerned that underfunding rail police could impact response times, leading to increasingly longer delays for passengers as staff wait for help.” He said. Problems include trespassing, vulnerable people, and cable theft.

A Network Rail spokesperson said: We are working with BTP to better understand the impact of funding issues on frontline policing and the railway, and aim to minimize the impact on passengers and other rail users.

A Department for Transport spokesperson said: British Transport Police play a vital role in keeping the traveling public safe and have received a funding increase this year.

As usual, BTP must now work with the British Transport Police and the rail industry to use this funding in the best interests of rail passengers.

Responding to the rising number of assaults, a spokesperson said: These figures are unacceptable. Passenger safety is our top priority and we are working closely with BTP and train operators to keep the railway safe for everyone.

A BTP spokesperson added: We know all crime is too much and we work tirelessly with our policing partners and the rail industry to prevent this type of behaviour.

Our patrols are driven and supported by statistics to ensure our officers are located exactly where they are needed most. We ask any passengers who witness or experience a crime to report it so we can take action.

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