British Transport Police

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As well as having jurisdiction across the national rail network, the BTP is also responsible for policing:

• London Underground
• Docklands Light Railway
• London Trams
• London Cable Car
• Glasgow Subway
• Tyne and Wear Metro (Sunderland branch)^[8]
• West Midlands Metro

This amounts to around 10,000 miles (16,000 km) of track and more than 3,000 railway stations and depots. There are more than one billion passenger journeys annually on the main lines alone.^[9]

In addition, BTP, in conjunction with the French National Police (under the Border Police unit) – Police aux Frontières – police the international services operated by Eurostar.^[10]

BTP is not responsible for policing the majority of the Tyne and Wear Metro, which is instead policed by Northumbria Police's Metro Unit,^[8] nor the entirety of the Manchester Metrolink (policed by Greater Manchester Police). BTP also does not police heritage railways.

A BTP constable can act as a police constable outside their normal railway jurisdiction as described in the "Powers and status of officers" section.^[11]

BTP constables previously had jurisdiction at docks, ports, harbours and inland waterways, as well at some bus stations and British Transport Hotels. These roles fell away in 1985 with privatisation. The legislation was amended to reflect this in 1994.^[12]

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Private British railway companies employed detectives and police almost from the outset of passenger services in 1826. These companies were unified into four in 1923 then into a single nationalised company in 1947 by the Transport Act, which also created the British Transport Commission (BTC). On 1 January 1949 the British Transport Commission Police (BTCP) were created by the British Transport Commission Act 1949^[13] which combined the already-existing police forces inherited from the pre-nationalisation railways by British Railways as well as the London Transport Police, canal police and several minor dock forces. In 1957 the Maxwell-Johnson enquiry found that policing requirements for the railway could not be met by territorial forces and that it was essential that a specialist police force be retained. On 1 January 1962 the British Transport Commission Police ceased to cover British Waterways property^[14] and exactly a year later when the BTC was abolished the name of the force was amended to the British Transport Police.

In the 1960s and 1970s BTP officers led by Detective Sergeant Derek Ridgewell gave false testimony to obtain convictions of young men in the British Black community on the London Underground on charges such as assault with intent to rob. Eventually some of the men, who became known as the Oval Four and Stockwell Six, managed to have their convictions overturned. In November 2021, the BTP chief constable apologised to the black community for the trauma caused by Ridgewell, and said his actions did "not define the BTP of today".^[15] In July 2021 Deputy Chief Constable Adrian Hanstock stated that a review of Ridgewell's record had "not identified any additional matters that we feel should be referred for external review",^[16] this proved not to be a reliable statement as the Criminal Case Review Commission subsequently quashed the convictions of Basil Peterkin and Saliah Mehmet, 2 of 12 men convicted on Ridgewell's evidence of theft from a goods depot in 1977. The CCRC appealed for "anyone else who believes that they or a loved one, friend or acquaintance was a victim of a miscarriage of justice to contact the CCRC – particularly if DS Derek Ridgewell was involved.",^[17] In January 2025, following after the Ronald De Souza's case was quashed, the victim's solicitor stated "I am not confident that all his victims have yet been identified." and the CCRC issued a direct appeal for anyone convicted in a case involving Ridgwell to come forward if they believed they were a victim of a miscarriage of justice.^[18] That sentiment was echoed in July 2025 when the solicitor for 13th victim Errol Campbell's family stated that there were that "bound to be others".^[19]

In 1984 London Buses decided not to use the British Transport Police. The British Transport Docks Board followed in 1985 when it was privatised. This included undertaking immigration control at smaller ports until the Immigration Service expanded. The force crest still includes ports and harbours.^{[citation needed]} BTP left the last ports it policed in 1990. The force played a central role in the response to the 7 July 2005 London bombings. Three of the incidents were at London Underground stations: Edgware Road (Circle Line), Russell Square and Aldgate stations, and the Number 30 bus destroyed at Tavistock Square was very close to the then force headquarters of the BTP, the latter incident being responded to initially by officers from the force.^{[citation needed]}

Historically, railway policing powers were derived from a mixture of common-law constable powers, various statutory provisions, and industry agreements. In the nineteenth century, this included the use of special constables appointed by magistrates under the Special Constables Act 1838, which enabled justices of the peace to swear in and remunerate constables for the protection of public works, including railways, at the request and expense of the companies concerned.^{[Note 1]} The modern position was consolidated onto a unified statutory footing—first through the Transport Police (Jurisdiction) Act 1994^[12] (amending British Transport Commission Act 1949 s 53) and then, comprehensively, through s 31 of the Railways and Transport Safety Act 2003.^[20][12]

In 2010, the force's dog training was moved from a force-specific training establishment near Tadworth, Surrey (opened in 1984) to the Metropolitan Police's Dogs Training School in Keston, London Borough of Bromley. In May 2011, the Secretary of State for Transport Philip Hammond announced that British Transport Police would create an armed capability of its own with the added benefit of additional resilience and capacity to the overall UK police armed capability.^[21] The BTP are deployed on armed patrols using Glock 17 pistols, LMT AR-15 CQB carbines^[22] and tasers.^[23]

The BTP was led by a chief police officer from its inception until 1958, when Arthur West was appointed its first chief constable.^[24]

• Arthur West (1958–1963)
• William Owen Gay (1963–1974)
• Eric Haslam (1974–1981)
• Kenneth Ogram (1981–1989)
• Desmond O'Brien (1989–1997)
• David Williams (1997–2001)
• Ian Johnston (2001–2009)
• Andrew Trotter (2009–2014)
• Paul Crowther (2014–2021)
• Lucy D'Orsi (2021–present)

Route crime collectively describes crimes and offences of trespass and vandalism which occur on railway lines and can affect the running of train services.^[25] The majority of deaths are due to suicide or trespass.^[26]

Graffiti costs rail firms over £5 million a year in direct costs alone.^[27] The BTP maintains a graffiti database which holds over 1900 graffiti tags, each unique to an individual. In 2005 BTP sent 569 suspects to court (an increase of 16% on 2004 figures).^[28]

In the North West Area BTP has joined forces with Lancashire Constabulary and Network Rail to combat theft of metal items and equipment from railway lines in an initiative called Operation Tremor. The BTP established Operation Drum in 2006 as a national response to the increase in metal theft offences and also chairs the relevant Association of Chief Police Officers working group.^[29]

Operation Shield is an initiative by BTP to reduce the number of knives carried by passengers on the rail network. This initiative came about after knife crime began to rise and also because of the murder of a passenger on a Virgin CrossCountry service travelling from Glasgow.^[30]

In 2013, in response a survey conducted by Transport for London, which showed that 15% of women using public transport in London had been the subject of some form of unwanted sexual behaviour but that 90% of incidents went unreported, the BTP—in conjunction with the Metropolitan Police Service, City of London Police, and TfL—launched Project Guardian, which aimed to reduce sexual offences and increase reporting.^[31]

In November 2016, BTP introduced the "See It, Say It, Sorted" slogan in posters and on-train tannoy announcements, encouraging passengers to report suspicious activity.^[32][33] The slogan has gained wide recognition.^[34]

During the mid-2020s, BTP reported elevated levels of hate crime in London across public transport. Asked about hate crime on buses, Chief Superintendent Chris Casey of the BTP told a City Hall meeting that international conflicts were “playing out” on London’s transport network. Police linked an increase in antisemitic incidents to the Israel–Gaza conflict that began in late 2023, as well as to the associated wave of pro-Palestinian protests in London. As part of its ongoing work, BTP has collaborated with the Metropolitan Police Service, Transport for London and other partners in a multi-agency effort to manage public protests, encourage the reporting of hate crime, and support wider city-wide prevention strategies.^[35][36][37]

The British Transport Police is almost wholly funded by the train operating companies, Network Rail, and the London Underground – part of Transport for London.^[38] Around 95% of BTP's funding comes from the train operating companies.^[39] Other operators with whom the BTP has a service agreement also contribute appropriately. This funding arrangement does not give the companies power to set objectives for the BTP, but there are industry representatives serving as members of the police authority.^[40] The police authority decides objectives. The industry membership represent five out of 13 members.^{[citation needed]}

The force does not receive any direct funding from the Home Office, but may apply for grants – such as for special events, like the London 2012 Olympic Games.^[7] With BTP now playing a large role in counter-terrorism on the rail network, the force also receives some grants towards its firearms units.^{[citation needed]}

The police authority has agreed its budget for 2021–22 at £328.1 million.^[41]

As of September 2025^[update], BTP had a workforce of 2,852 police officers, 1,619 police staff & designated officers, 189 police community support officers, 211 special constables, and 42 support volunteers.^[4]

From 1 April 2014, the divisional structure changed from the previous seven division structure to a four division structure - according to BTP this new structure will 'deliver a more efficient force, generating savings to reinvest in more police officers across the railway network'.^[42]

Based at BTP headquarters in Central London, this division retains overall control of the other divisions and houses central functions including forensics, CCTV and major investigations. As of 2015^[update], 393 police officers, ten special constables and 946 police staff were based at FHQ.^[43]

This division covers London and the South East and southern areas of England. This division is further divided into the following sub-divisions:

• North^[44]
• Central^[45]
• South^[46]

As of 2015^[update], B Division housed 1,444 police officers, 101 special constables, 191 PCSOs and 361 police staff.^[43]

This division covers the North East, North West, the Midlands, South West areas of England and Wales. This division is further divided into the following sub-divisions:

• Pennine^[47]
• Midland^[48]
• Wales^[49]
• Western

As of 2015^[update], C Division housed 921 police officers, 127 special constables, 132 PCSOs and 180 police staff.^[43]

This division covers Scotland. There are no sub-divisions within D Division.^[50]

As of 2015^[update], D Division housed 214 police officers, 24 special constables and 46 police staff.^[43]

E Division (Specialist Operations) was formed in 2020, removing the counter-terrorism units and assets from A Division, and placing them into their own division.

E division comprises the force's specialist counter-terrorism units including the Firearms Unit, Dog Branch, Specialist Response Unit and others.

Prior to April 2014, BTP was divided into seven geographical basic command units (BCUs) which it referred to as 'police areas':

• Scotland (Area HQ in Glasgow)
• North Eastern (Area HQ in Leeds)
• North Western (Area HQ in Manchester)
• London North (Area HQ in London - Caledonian Road)
• London Underground (Area HQ in London - Broadway)
• London South (Area HQ in London - London Bridge Street)
• Wales & Western (Area HQ in Birmingham)

Prior to 2007, there was an additional Midland Area and Wales and West Area; however, this was absorbed into the Wales and Western area and North Eastern area.^{[citation needed]}

BTP operates two force control rooms and one call-handling centre:

• First Contact Centre: Based in Birmingham and responsible for handling all routine telephone traffic. This facility was created further to criticism by HMIC.^[51][52]
• Force Control Room – Birmingham: Based in Birmingham – alongside the First Contact Centre – and responsible for C and D Divisions which cover the East Midlands, West Midlands, Wales, the North West of England, the North East of England, the South West of England and Scotland.
• Force Control Room – London: Responsible for B Division which covers the South and East of England including Greater London (both TfL and Mainline).

Both FCRL and FCRB house an events control suite, and a 'silver suite' incident control room is located in the South East for coordinating major incidents and as a fallback facility.

The Home Office DTELS callsign for BTP is 'M2BX' and their events control suite is 'M2AZ' for force-wide events and incidents, and the South East and 'M2AY' for Outer London events and incidents.

BTP also have consoles within the Metropolitan Police C3i Special Operations Room (SOR).

The BTP can be contacted via their 61016 text service.^[53] In November, 2024, BTP made agreements with the four mobile network operators in the UK to make the service free.^[54]

The force only acquired the power to designate custody suites in 2001,^[55] whereby all of the custody suites up until that point were non-designated. The force previously ran a number of non-designated custody suites around the country, which had all been closed down by 2014.^[56] A non-designated custody suite only allows police to detain someone for six hours before they are either released (whether charged, bailed or released without charge) or transferred to a designated facility.

The force retains one designated custody suite that is operational at Brewery Road in London (20 cells), where persons arrested within a reasonable travelling distance are taken, plus a temporary custody suite at Wembley Park that is used for some events.^[57]

A number of other BTP custody suites were operational in London but these were closed in 2017 due to concerns regarding the time that it took to transport prisoners there.^[58]

From 2012, as a result of a recommendation following the 7 July 2005 London bombings, BTP embedded officers with TfL's Emergency Response Unit (ERU). ERU vehicles were given blue lights and police markings, and driven by a BTP officer, to enable the unit to reach emergencies quicker. The unit carries TfL engineers to incidents on the London Underground, such as one under accidents and terrorist incidents. The vehicles are driven by BTP officers, so once at the scene the officer performs regular policing duties in relation to any crime or public safety issues. The use of the blue lights on the unit's vehicles is subject to the same criteria as with any other police vehicle.^[59][60][61] In December 2013, TfL announced that the trial of blue lights had ended, and that ERU vehicles would retain blue lights, as BTP drivers had halved the unit's response time to incidents.^[62] The use of police livery and blue lights ended in 2024 after a review determined that it did not meet national guidelines for blue-light responses.^[63]

Similar schemes have been implemented elsewhere in the country, including a partnership with Network Rail and South West Trains (SWT) in which a BTP officer crews an "Emergency Intervention Unit", which conveys engineers and equipment to incidents on SWT's network using blue lights.^[64] The scheme won the "passenger safety" category at the UK Rail Industry Awards in 2015.^[65][66] Another "Emergency Response Unit" was established in partnership with Network Rail in the Glasgow area in the run-up to the 2014 Commonwealth Games.^[67]

In May 2012, the BTP formed the Medic Response Unit to respond to medical incidents on the London Underground network, primarily to reduce disruption to the network during the 2012 Summer Olympics. The scheme was initially for a 12-month trial, and consisted of 20 police officers (18 police constables and two sergeants) and two dedicated fast-response cars. The officers attached to the unit each undertook a four-week course in pre-hospital care, funded by TfL. TfL estimated that around one third of delays on the London Underground were caused by "passenger incidents", of which the majority related to medical problems with passengers; the purpose of the unit is to provide a faster response to medical incidents, providing treatment at the scene with the aim of reducing disruption to the network.^[68] The unit also aims to assist passengers who may be distressed after being trapped on trains while an incident at a station is resolved. Its training and equipment is the same as that of the London Ambulance Service in order to ensure smooth hand-overs of patients.^[69] At the end of the trial period, in October 2013, the unit was reduced to eight officers; the other twelve returned to regular policing duties after TfL judged the results of the scheme to be less than conclusive.^[62] Officers from the unit treated over 650 people in the first year of operation, including rescuing a passenger who fell onto the tracks, and made 50 arrests.^[70]

In May 2011, the Secretary of State for Transport announced with agreement from the Home Secretary that approval had been given for BTP to develop a firearms capability following a submission to government in December by BTP.^[71][72][73] Government stated that this was not in response to any specific threat, and pointed out that it equipped the BTP with a capability that was already available to other police forces and that BTP relied upon police forces for assistance which was a burden.^[73]

In February 2012, BTP firearms officers commenced patrols focusing on mainline stations in London and transport hubs to provide a visible deterrence and immediate armed response if necessary.^[74] Firearms officers carry a Glock 17 handgun and a LMT CQB 10.5" SBR carbine that may be fitted with a suppressor and are trained to armed response vehicle standard.^{[75][Note 2]}

In 2014, the Firearms Act 1968 was amended to recognise BTP as a police force under the Act in order to provide BTP a firearms licensing exemption the same as other police forces.^[78]

In December 2016, firearms officers commenced patrolling on board train services on the London Underground.^[79]

In May 2017, as part of the response to the Manchester Arena bombing, it was announced that firearms officers would patrol on board trains outside London for the first time.^[79]

In June 2017, BTP announced that the force firearms capability would be expanding outside of London with plans to establish armouries and hubs at Birmingham and Manchester. In October 2017, BTP commenced an internal advertisement requesting expressions of interest from substantive constables for the role of firearms officers at Birmingham and Manchester.^{[citation needed]}

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Under s.31 of the Railways and Transport Safety Act 2003, British Transport Police officers have "all the power and privileges of a constable" when:

• on track (any land or other property comprising the permanent way of any railway, taken together with the ballast, sleepers and rails laid thereon, whether or not the land or other property is also used for other purposes, any level crossings, bridges, viaducts, tunnels, culverts, retaining walls, or other structures used or to be used for the support of, or otherwise in connection with, track; and any walls, fences or other structures bounding the railway or bounding any adjacent or adjoining property)^[80]
• on network (a railway line, or installations associated with a railway line)^[80]
• in a station (any land or other property which consists of premises used as, or for the purposes of, or otherwise in connection with, a railway passenger station or railway passenger terminal (including any approaches, forecourt, cycle store or car park), whether or not the land or other property is, or the premises are, also used for other purposes)^[80]
• in a light maintenance depot,
• on other land used for purposes of or in relation to a railway, the transport police
• on other land in which a person who provides railway services has a freehold or leasehold interest, and
• throughout Great Britain for a purpose connected to a railway or to anything occurring on or in relation to a railway.

"Railway" means a system of transport employing parallel rails which provide support and guidance for vehicles carried on flanged wheels, and form a track which either is of a gauge of at least 350 millimetres or crosses a carriageway (whether or not on the same level).^[81]

A BTP constable may enter

• the track,
• a network,
• a station,
• a substation,
• a light maintenance depot, and
• a railway vehicle.

without a warrant, using reasonable force if necessary, and whether or not an offence has been committed.^[82]

BTP officers derive their powers to police the London Cable Car from the London Cable Car Order 2012.^[83]

BTP officers need, however, to move between railway sites and often have a presence in city centres. Consequently, they can be called upon to intervene in incidents outside their natural jurisdiction. ACPO (now the NPCC) estimate that some 8,000 such incidents occur every year. As a result of the Anti-terrorism, Crime and Security Act 2001^[84] BTP officers can act as police constables outside their normal jurisdiction in the following circumstances:

If requested by a constable of:

• a territorial police force,
• the Ministry of Defence Police (MDP), or
• the Civil Nuclear Constabulary (CNC)

to help assist an officer in the execution of their duties in relation to a particular incident, investigation or operation, a BTP constable also has the powers of the requesting officer for the purposes of that incident, investigation or operation.^[85] If a constable from a territorial police force makes the request, then the powers of the BTP constable extend only to the requesting constable's police area.^[85] If a constable from the MDP or CNC makes the request, then the powers of the BTP officer are the same as those of the requesting constable.^[85]

If requested by the chief constable of one of the forces mentioned above, a BTP constable takes on all the powers and privileges of members of the requesting force.^[86] This power is used for planned operations, such as the 2005 G8 summit at Gleneagles.

A BTP constable has the same powers and privileges of a constable of a territorial police force:^[85]

• in relation to people whom they suspect on reasonable grounds of having committed, being in the course of committing or being about to commit an offence, or
• if they believe on reasonable grounds that they need those powers and privileges in order to save life or to prevent or minimise personal injury or damage to property.

A BTP constable may only use such powers if they reasonably believe that waiting for a local constable (as above) would frustrate or seriously prejudice the purpose of exercising them.^[85]

The policing protocol between BTP and Home Office forces set outs the practical use of these extended powers.

"Other than in the circumstances set out under Mutual Aid, British Transport Police officers will not normally seek to exercise extended jurisdiction arrangements to deal with other matters unless they come across an incident requiring police action whilst in the course of their normal duties. Whenever British Transport Police officers exercise police powers under the Extended Jurisdiction Arrangements the BTP Chief Constable will ensure that the relevant Local Chief Constable is notified as soon as practicable."

When policing the Channel Tunnel, BTP constables have the same powers and privileges as members of Kent Police when in France,^[88] and will also be under the direction and control of the Chief Constable of Kent.^[88]

A BTP constable can:

• When in Scotland, execute an arrest warrant, warrant of commitment and a warrant to arrest a witness (from England, Wales or Northern Ireland),^[89] and
• When in England or Wales, execute a warrant for committal, a warrant to imprison (or to apprehend and imprison) and a warrant to arrest a witness (from Scotland).^[89]

When executing a warrant issued in Scotland, a BTP constable executing it shall have the same powers and duties, and the person arrested the same rights, as they would have had if execution had been in Scotland by a constable of Police Scotland.^[89] When executing a warrant issued in England, Wales or Northern Ireland, a constable may use reasonable force and has specified search powers provided by section 139 of the Criminal Justice and Public Order Act 1994.^[89]

A BTP constable, other than a special constable, can:

• When in Scotland, arrest an individual they suspect of committing a specified offence in England and Wales or Northern Ireland if the Constable is satisfied that it would not be in the best interests of justice to wait until a warrant has been issued under the Criminal Justice and Public Order Act 2004.^[90]
• When in England or Wales, arrest a person they suspect of committing a specified offence in Scotland or Northern Ireland, or the constable has reasonable grounds to believe that the arrest is necessary to allow the prompt and effective investigation of the offence or prevent the prosecution of the offence being hindered by the disappearance of the individual.^[90]

The power can be exercised on or off of transport property without restriction.

This is the only known power that is available to 'regular' BTP constables and not BTP special constables as a result of the Policing and Crime Act 2017 stating that the power is available to constables attested under Section 24 of the Railways and Transport Safety Act 2003 (BTP special constables are appointed under Section 25 of the aforementioned Act).

BTP constables (both 'regular' and special constables) are designated as law enforcement officers in the same way as members of a territorial police force under Chapter 5 of the Act. This allows them to exercise maritime enforcement powers, including the powers of arrest for offences that could be subject to prosecution under the laws of England and Wales, Northern Ireland or Scotland, in relation to:

• a British ship in England and Wales, Northern Ireland or Scottish waters, foreign waters or international waters,
• a ship without nationality in England and Wales waters or international waters,
• a foreign ship in England and Wales waters or international waters, or
• a ship, registered under the law of a relevant territory, in England and Wales waters or international waters.^[91]

Constables of the BTP are required by S.24 of the Railways and Transport Safety Act 2003 (and special constables of the BTP are required by S.25) to make one of the following attestations, depending on the jurisdiction in which they have been appointed:

I, [name], of British Transport Police, do solemnly and sincerely declare and affirm, that I will well and truly serve the King, in the office of constable, with fairness, integrity, diligence and impartiality, upholding fundamental human rights and according equal respect to all people; and that I will, to the best of my power, cause the peace to be kept and preserved, and prevent all offences against people and property; and that while I continue to hold the said office, I will, to the best of my skill and knowledge, discharge all duties thereof faithfully according to law.

[Police Act 1996, Schedule 4 as amended.]

The attestation can be made in Welsh.

Constables are required to make the declaration required by s.10 of the Police and Fire Reform (Scotland) Act 2012 before a sheriff or justice of the peace.

I do solemnly, sincerely and truly declare and affirm that I will faithfully discharge the duties of the office of constable with fairness, integrity, diligence and impartiality, and that I will uphold fundamental human rights and accord equal respect to all people, according to law.

A BTP constable does not lose the ability to exercise his powers when off duty. Section 22 of the Infrastructure Act 2015^[92] repealed section 100(3)(a) of the Anti-terrorism, Crime and Security Act 2001^[93] which required BTP officers to be in uniform or in possession of documentary evidence (i.e. their warrant card) in order to exercise their powers. The repeal of this subsection, which came into effect on 12 April 2015,^[94] now means BTP officers are able to use their powers on or off duty and in uniform or plain clothes regardless of whether they are in possession of their warrant card.^[95]

On 1 July 2004 a police authority for the British Transport Police was created.^[96] BTP officers became employees of the police authority; prior to that, they were employees of the Strategic Rail Authority.

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British Transport Police first recruited special constables in a trial based in the North West Area in 1995, and this was expanded to the whole of the UK. Many specials are recruited from the wider railway community and those working for train operating companies are encouraged by their employers.

Under the terms of the Railways and Transport Safety Act 2003 and the Anti-terrorism, Crime and Security Act 2001, BTP special constables have identical jurisdiction and powers to BTP regular constables; primary jurisdiction on any railway in Great Britain and a conditional jurisdiction in any other police force area.

BTP specials do not wear the 'SC' insignia (a crown with the letters SC underneath) on their epaulettes unlike some of their counterparts in some Home Office police forces.^[98]

As of March 2023, the BTP Special Constabulary held a headcount of just over 240 officers working across Great Britain.^[99] The headcount for the Special Constabulary sits just under 500.

In January 2022 the British Transport Police Police Federation allowed BTP special constables to join,^[100][101] a precondition for an announcement in May 2022 that specials would be trained to carry tasers.^[102]

As of January 2024, the need to complete a promotion exam was removed, and two ranks were removed; special superintendent and special chief inspector. It continues to be led by a special chief officer and a special deputy chief officer. Each division has a number of special inspectors and special sergeants who continue to lead and manage their teams. The BTP Special Constabulary rank structure differs from the regular officers' structure, although some are similar.^[103]

The structure is as follows:

Rank	Special chief officer	Special deputy chief officer	Special chief inspector (Not currently used)	Special inspector	Special sergeant	Special constable
Epaulette insignia

Special constables can progress up the rank structure. Whilst the names may be similar to other ranks (e.g. inspector), the insignia is different, so that regulars and specials can be easily distinguished.

Special constables in the BTP volunteer at least sixteen hours per month, similar to Home Office forces. They also aim to reach Independent Patrol Status (IPS) and then, if so desired, can volunteer in different departments, including:^[104]

• Operational Support Unit (OSU)
• Criminal Investigation Department (CID) (including Major Serious and Organised Crime, MSOC)
• Civil Protection Unit
• Disruption Tasking Team
• Violent Crime Task Force.

For specials joining for England and Wales stations, training is completed in London, and for Scottish specials it is in Glasgow. Phase One training is 26 days, in person, with additional online training sessions. Accommodation is provided. A reduced training course is available for transferee specials (volunteers who transfer in from other police forces).^[105]

British Transport Police is the only special police force that employs police community support officers (PCSOs). Under Section 28 of the Railways and Transport Safety Act 2003, can allow the BTP Chief Constable to recruit PCSOs and designate powers to them using the Police Reform Act 2002, which previously only extended to chief constables or commissioners of territorial police forces. ^[106][107]

The BTP started recruiting PCSOs on 13 December 2004.^[108] They were on patrol for the first time on Wednesday 5 January 2005,^[109] who mostly work in the force's neighbourhood policing teams (NPTs).

BTP is one of only three forces to issue its PCSOs handcuffs, the others North Wales Police and Dyfed-Powys Police. This also includes leg restraints.^[110] BTP PCSOs also utilise generally more powers than their counterparts in other forces.^[111][112]

Although BTP polices in Scotland (D Division) it does not have any PCSOs in Scotland due to limitations of the Police Reform Act 2002, the law that empowers PCSOs which does not extend to Scotland. Although unlike police officers there is no formal transfer process.^[113] BTP is known to often attract PCSOs already serving in other police forces.^[114][115]

One of BTPs PCSOs is credited with making the force's largest ever illegal drugs seizure from one passenger when on 30 September 2009 PCSO Dan Sykes noticed passenger James Docherty acting suspiciously in Slough railway station only to find him in possession of £200,000 worth of Class C drugs. PCSO Sykes then detained Docherty who was then arrested and later imprisoned after trial.^[116]

In 2006 PCSO George Roach became the first BTP PCSO to be awarded a Chief Constable's Commendation after he saved a suicidal man from an oncoming train at Liverpool Lime Street railway station.^[117]

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Until the 1990s the principal investigators of railway accidents were the inspecting officers of HM Railway Inspectorate, and BTP involvement was minimal. With major accidents after the 1988 Clapham Junction rail crash being investigated by more adversarial public inquiries, the BTP took on a more proactive role in crash investigations. Further reforms led to the creation by the Department for Transport of the Rail Accident Investigation Branch which takes the lead role in investigations of accidents.^{[citation needed]}

The British Transport Police Authority is the police authority that oversees the BTP. A police authority is a governmental body in the United Kingdom that defines strategic plans for a police force and provides accountability^[118] so that the police function "efficiently and effectively",^[119] and the BTP patrol the railways in England, Wales, and Scotland.^[120]

The chair, appointed by the Secretary of State for Transport, was Alistair Graham from its founding in 2004 until the end of 2011, Millie Banerjee^[121] from 2011 to 2015. Esther McVey served as chair from 2015 to 2017. Ron Barclay-Smith was appointed as chair in 2018.^[122]

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Although the British Transport Police is not under the control of the Home Office, and as such was not included as part of the proposed mergers of the Home Office forces of England and Wales in early 2006, both the then London mayor Ken Livingstone and then head of the Metropolitan Police Sir Ian Blair stated publicly that they wanted a single police force in Greater London. As part of this, they wished to have the functions of the BTP within Greater London absorbed by the Metropolitan Police. However, following a review of the BTP by the Department for Transport, no changes to the form and function of the force were implemented, and any proposed merger did not happen.^[123]

There were Scottish government proposals for the BTP's Scottish division (D Division) to be merged with Police Scotland. However, the merger was postponed indefinitely in August 2018.^[124][125]

In 2006 it was suggested BTP take on airport policing nationally.

In 2010, it was suggested that BTP take on VOSA traffic officers and Highways England traffic officers. It was estimated BTP would save £25 million if this went ahead.^[126] Contrary to popular belief, it was not proposed to merge Home office forces traffic units.

As of 2017 the government made a manifesto commitment to merge BTP, the Civil Nuclear Constabulary and Ministry of Defence Police into a single "British Infrastructure Police". Originally after the 2015 Paris attacks, it was thought fully arming BTP and merging the three force would create a significant boost to firearms officer numbers in the UK and they could act as a nationwide counter terrorism force. Two options for this were developed;

Option 1: A single National Infrastructure Constabulary combining the function of the Civil Nuclear Constabulary, the Ministry of Defence Police, the British Transport Police, the Highways England Traffic Officer Service, DVSA uniformed enforcement officers and Home Office police forces' airport and port police units, along with private port police; or

Option 2: A Transport Infrastructure Constabulary and an Armed Infrastructure Constabulary, with the first bringing together the functions carried out by BTP, the Highways England Traffic Officer Service, DVSA uniformed enforcement officers and Home Office police forces' airport and port police units, along with private port police. The Armed Infrastructure force would be a merger of MDP and CNC.

Discussing the review in January 2017, DCC Hanstock commented on the specific responsibilities of BTP and stakeholder responses to the infrastructure policing review:

"What is different is the environment—understanding the risks, threats and health and safety elements—and being specially trained to operate in a transport way. Added to that is understanding the implications of how we do our business: the commercial imperative and the impact of what you do in one area of the network on what happens elsewhere, which may be hundreds of miles up country, based on decisions you make here. There is some true uniqueness about the British Transport police, which I think is treasured by the industry and stakeholders, and that is reflected in quite a bit of the feedback we have received about nervousness about some of these proposals."

In June 2018 it was reported that these proposals had also been shelved for the time being. The only consensus it seems is that BTP would be suited to taking on airport and port policing as opposed to other modes of transport.

• List of police forces of the United Kingdom
• Policing in the United Kingdom
• Transit police
• Railroad police