British Transport PSA HOLDER BRIEFING

Issue 1 2008

Welcome to the first issue of the PSA Newsletter for 2008. We wish you all the best for the year ahead. We hope to inform you of any BTPA news as well as any operational issues which may be of interest to you. This is also an effective way of keeping you updated about progress against operational and financial targets. BTPA News

We would welcome feedback on the newsletter and any suggestions on what you 2008 -11 Strategic Plan approved would like to see included. At the Police Authority meeting on the 22nd successful delivery of the 2008-11 Plan. January the Strategic Plan for 2008 –11 was The Plan will be launched at an event to be approved. held at BTP Force Headquarters in Camden. The Plan was developed following extensive The date of the event will be 27th May. More consultation with a range of our stakeholders details will follow in the form of a formal including input from industry and passenger invitation letter. representatives. In delivering the Plan the Force and Authority will be focusing on four key aims; Go ahead for Policing Plan I Reducing crime and disorder At its meeting on 4th March the Authority I Protecting the railway economy approved the Force’s Policing Plan for 2008/9. Having received positive feedback on the I Increasing BTP’s capacity and capability combined national and local approach to target through improved efficiency and setting for the 2007/8 Plan, the Force has once effectiveness again undertaken to tackle a range of national I Providing a better service to passengers, rail and locally defined policing priorities. staff and the rail industry As a result of inputs from local consultation Continuing emphasis on partnership working on Areas, annual web based surveys and the with our industry stakeholders will underpin the National Passenger Survey; the 2008/9 Plan will include the following; Budget agreed National targets I An overall reduction in notifiable crime At its meeting on 4th March the Authority has approved the following in relation to the Force’s budgets; I A 1% increase in the Force’s overall detection rate Overground revenue budget of £192.83m I Cable theft Underground budget of £50.309m A reduction in live cable theft of 5% Capital budget of £11m An increase in the number of offenders In setting this budget the Authority has contained the increase in charges to detected PSA holders within the RPI figure 4.1% as set out in the Strategic Plan. An increase in assets seized L

1 British Transport Police Authority PSA HOLDER BRIEFING

Issue 1 2008

BTPA News

L I An increase in the number of football banning I Route crime orders I Anti-social behaviour I At least 2% efficiency savings to be I Neighbourhood Policing reinvested in frontline policing In addition, Area specific targets which include; I A reduction in employee sickness to less Joint revenue operations with industry on than 8 days per year I North and Local targets I Offensive weapons detection target on Locally defined and agreed targets on all Areas London South for; I Assist in achieving secure station status at 4 I Staff assaults stations in the North West I Robbery I Vehicle and cycle crime reduction target in I Violent sexual assaults the North East News from BTP FHQ

Olympic & Paralympic ERP puts focus on frontline resources Games Using the Efficiency Review Programme (ERP) investing in front line policing, and in particular We are pleased to be able to the British Transport Police Force are in the Neighbourhood Policing Teams. confirm that Secretary of process of reviewing their efficiency of a To date the BTP has reduced spending by State has approved funding number of activities £3.7million to achieve a balanced budget, but for the BTP. This means the I Human Resources there is still more that can be done. Research DfT will be paying for the into the above departments is being I Information and Communication Technology policing costs throughout undertaken. The methods used include detailed (ICT) the Olympic and Paralympic interviews, work volumes being assessed and Games I Finance data collections undertaken. BTP continues to work on I Procurement In order to provide a clear operational focus developing its daily Olympic I Fleet to the outcomes of ERP, and having sought policing plans and the examples of best practice in efficiency I Estates supporting command management from Home Office police forces, structure. Work is also I Media and Communications the primary focus for the ERP will be delivering taking place on identifying I Area Based Strategic Reviews additional front-line resources, including key railway infrastructure The main reason for this efficiency review is to additional Neighbourhood Policing Teams that will require counter see whether some of the resources used by (NPTs) for BTP Areas, to be known, in future, as terrorism security advice. these activities could be put to better use by the Frontlinefirst Programme. New Year’s Honours for BTP officers

January saw several BTP officers receive Honours in the Queen’s New Year’s Honours List. Firstly DCC Andrew Trotter received an OBE in recognition of 36 years serving in the Police Force. Paul Robb, former Assistant Chief Crime who retired in July 2007 was awarded a Queen’s Police Medal (QPM) in recognition for his 31 years with the BTP. Randy Otter, a Chief Inspector in Operations was awarded an MBE in recognition of 32 years dedicated service to BTP and also for his charity work in which he has raised significant Honoured: From left: Andrew Trotter OBE, funds for a number of charities. Randy Otter MBE, Paul Robb QPM

2 British Transport Police Authority PSA HOLDER BRIEFING

Issue 1 2008

News from BTP FHQ

Neighbourhood Policing A key strategic aim of British Transport Police (BTP) is to increase the trust and confidence of the railway community and the travelling public by working in partnership with others to help build a safe railway environment that is free from disruption and the fear of crime. One of the ways this is done is through the Neighbourhood Policing Teams (NPTs) Football Policing BTP’s first major football operation of 2008 took place on the 5th – 6th January and Day of Action reels in cable thieves focussed on 32 fixtures over the weekend. Over 900 As you are aware cable theft is one of BTP’s December lead to two arrests, 33 prohibitions people were stopped which priorities. A national day of action was planned orders issued for unroadworthy vehicles, led to 39 arrests. These were for the 28th January. seizure of 2 vehicles, 23 people reported to the predominantly for public All BTP areas and participating Home Office Environment Agency for the illegally disposal of order, offensive weapons, forces visited scrap metal dealers and rail waste, and fixed penalty tickets up to the value and drug related offences. depots to raise awareness and help with crime of £3,500 issued for waste carrier licence ACC Pacey provided the reduction. offences. The most recent convictions were on Members of the Authority This day led to 11 arrests, 11 vehicle seizures 28 December 2007 when 2 men were with some figures related to and 66 fixed penalty notices for a variety of sentenced at Barnsley Magistrates Court to football policing. offences. terms of imprisonment of 56 days and 14 days An operation in the North Eastern area in for theft of cable. Operation Lockstock PSA holders can contact their local BTP media teams for tackles staff assaults regular updates on Area news and newsletter circulations. Operation Lockstock was London Underground Area’s two month crackdown on assaults on rail staff which began on 5 November. Working with London North, London South, the Contact BTPA London Criminal Justice Board, train operators and Transport for British Transport Police Authority London, Operation Lockstock targeted staff assault hotspots at 5th Floor train stations around the capital. This is the second year that this The Forum high profile operation has run. BTP officers exercised a positive 74-80 Camden Street arrest policy with all cases submitted to the CPS for a charging London NW1 0EG decision. Tel: 020 7383 0259 Support from the London Crown Prosecution Service means Email: [email protected] anyone arrested for assaulting staff on London’s railways, the London Underground, and Croydon Contact BTP was put before the Duty Prosecutor for a charging 25 Camden Road decision. BTP also offered victims of staff assault the opportunity London NW1 9LN to make a personal impact statement in addition to the witness Email: [email protected] statement.

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