British Transport Police – Challenges and Solutions

Stephen Thomas QPM Assistant Chief Constable, Operations British Transport Police (BTP)

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British Transport Police

Challenges and Solutions

Stephen Thomas

Assistant Chief Constable

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Challenges and Solutions

1. Disruption

Fatalities

Cable Theft

(At 6th March 2014 all disruption 508,403 minutes down from

525,747 minutes)

2. Theft of Passenger Property

Fatalities - The Problem

• Increasing numbers of suicides and attempted

suicides

• Traditional Police approach – think Murder then

work down / Risk Averse / Coroner

• Complex and challenging incidents

• A rise in unexplained classifications

• High volume of disruption and delay

• Stranded passengers

• Public at risk – such as Passengers detraining

Fatality Scene

Fatalities

Action Taken and Lessons Learnt

• Process Map / Analyse / Review

• Academic Research

• Review Unexplained Fatality classifications

• Liaison with Chief Coroner for England & Wales

• New Fatality Management Guidance

• Purchased equipment to aid the partial re opening of the

railway including body coverings and cameras

• Training / awareness introduced for all BTP / Rail staff

• Introduction of Fatality Response Officers to support

scene activities and body recovery

Fatalities

Action Taken and Lessons Learnt

• Partnership Working – Samaritans, NHS, Industry

• CCTV – stations and trains

• Engineering Solutions – Reduce Vulnerability

• All fatalities are reviewed and lessons learnt and best practice is captured and disseminated

• The same innovative approach to reducing all police related disruption including trespass, people in precarious positions, vandalism, graffiti and level crossing misuse

• A strategy introduced to reduce primary and reactionary disruption minutes

Fatalities- Success

2011/12 2012/13 2013/14

(April – Feb)

Average Line

Hand Back

113min 83min 75mins

Unexplained

Classifications

101 30 10

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Cable Theft – The Problem

Cable Theft

• Metal theft increasing over past five years

• Driven by a growing global demand for metal

• Cash in hand disposal

• Deloitte: £220 – £260 Million

• ACPO: £770 Million

• HMRC: £1 Billion tax avoidance

• Network rail: £20 Million in last 3 years (£ 36 Million ??)

RESTICTED 10

Cable Theft – National Strategy

• Increase the effort required to steal metal – protective

security to reduce vulnerability

• Increase the risk to offenders – detection and targeted

enforcement

• Reduce the ease and reward to offenders of selling stolen

metal –stolen metal identification and reduced cash benefits

• Increase the risk to dealers of handling stolen goods –

greater responsibility to take all reasonable step

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Cable Theft

Action Taken and Lessons Learnt

• Government Support Legislation and Budget (DfT £5m,

HO £750k)

• Network Rail / Partnership Working / SMDA

• ACPO Metal Theft Working Group / Taskforce

• Fusion Intelligence Unit

• Regional Network / Bids Panel

• Days of Action - 25 (33 Police Forces)

• Op Tornado – SMD Voluntary Scheme

• Operation Baltic – Ports

• Scrap Metal Dealers Act 2013 (1st October – 1st December)

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Cable Theft - Success

Network Rail National Performance

Cable Theft Impact Summary - Last 3 Years

Incidents Delays Cost

2011/12 845 344,680 £12,000,679

2012/13 287 160,271 £5,823,646

2013/14 168 61,092 £2,255,703

Total 1,300 566,043 £20,080,028

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Theft of Passenger Property –

The Problem

Despite an overall downward trend in crime in recent years,

Theft of Passenger Property (TPP) was on the increase

This shows a 5.26% increase from 2010/11 and a 17.39%

increase from 2011/12.

7 March 2013 - Operation Magnum on London Underground

10 June 2013 – Operation Magnum nationally

2010/11 2011/12 2012/13

16,608 14,892 17,481

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Theft of Passenger Property –

The Problem

• Theft from the person

• Theft on train

• Mobile phones the most attractive item for thieves

• End of line reporting an issue

• Intelligence gaps around the criminal market

• Mixture of planned thefts and opportunistic thefts

• Mixture of individuals and groups

• Mixture of domestic and foreign offenders but a trend

for Eastern European offenders especially in London

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Theft of Passenger Property

Action Taken and Lessons Learnt

• Intelligence led directed patrols –uniform and covert

• Increase the risk to offenders – detection and targeted

enforcement

• Anticipate spikes of reported crime and plan accordingly

• Explore the market and reduce cash benefits to offenders

• Increase the risk to dealers of handling stolen goods

• Partnership / joint industry and police working

• Public information to reduce vulnerability

• Exploit Technology – tracking / identification / CCTV

• IMEI and/or Serial Number - investigations and

repatriation of property to owners

• Focus on Lost Property Offices

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Theft of Passenger Property –

Public Information Materials