British Transport Police

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The British Transport Police (BTP) is a non-Home Office national police service responsible for policing the railway system throughout Great Britain. The service is also responsible for policing the London Underground system, the Docklands Light Railway, the Midland Metro and Croydon Tramlink. It is not, however, responsible for policing the Glasgow Underground, Tyne and Wear Metro or Manchester Metro.

The service has 2,494 regular police officers, 248 special constables and 1,015 support staff throughout England, Wales, and Scotland (2003). Northern Ireland does not have an extensive railway system, and responsibility for policing remains in control of the Police Service of Northern Ireland. The Chief Constable is Ian Johnston.

The British Transport Police can trace its history back to 1825, to the origins of the police service in Britain. It was judged that the railways needed their own police force to protect the transit of cargo and passengers. At one time every railway company had its own police force, but these were amalgamated on the formation of British Railways in 1948.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> Predating the arrival of the railways, there were also some instances of 'canal police' employed by canal companies to keep order along their transport links — the Grand Surrey Canal employed "bank rangers" from 1811.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

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Unlike the Home Office Police forces, British Transport Police receives no funding from central government - instead, it is funded by the train operating companies, Network Rail, and the London Underground.<ref>Template:Cite book</ref> This funding arrangement does not give the rail companies power to set objectives for the BTP, nor are the BTP a 'private security company'. Indeed, whether on or off duty, officers of the 'BTP' are under sworn oath to use their powers to; 'cause peace to be preserved, and prevent all offences against the persons and property of Her Majesty's subjects'. This is stated in the Form of Oath taken by all British Transport Police Officers.

British Transport Police officers are constables with the same powers as constables of regional Home Office police forces when on railway property and can also exercise their powers in most, though not all, situations throughout England, Wales and Scotland.<ref>s31 Railways and Transport Safety Act 2003</ref> <ref>s100 Anti-terrorism, Crime and Security Act 2001</ref> Their uniforms and rank system are similar to other British police forces. Officers often wear distinctive black jerseys with a black and white diced pattern on the yoke.

On 1 July 2004 a Police Authority for the British Transport Police was created.<ref>s18 Railways and Transport Safety Act 2003</ref> BTP Officers became employees of the Police Authority, whereas beforehand they were employees of the Strategic Rail Authority.

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