Select committee inquiry
Security on the railway
Closed
What the inquiry looked at
“The purpose of this inquiry was to look at crime and perceptions of crime on the railway and how these can be reduced. Security on the railway - Terms of reference”
The committee's words, from the inquiry page on parliament.uk ↗.
What it found
In the committee's words, from the summary of 5th Report - Security on the railway ↗
Crime on Britain’s railways decreased year-on-year over the past decade. That trend shows the effectiveness of the specialist rail policing provided by the British Transport Police (BTP). We were impressed by the BTP’s commitment to tackling crime while minimising delays for the travelling public.
Despite the welcome decline in overall crime, we identified areas where the BTP could improve its performance. The British Transport Police Authority (BTPA) is the body with responsibility for setting the BTP challenging but achievable targets to tackle crime on the railway. The BTPA must fulfil its remit and avoid any perception that it is too close to the people whom it should be holding to account.
We concluded that the BTP model of developing specialist policing skills and securing funding from transport providers might usefully be applied to other transport modes, such as aviation. Such an approach could minimise delays, maximise security and reduce the cost of policing to taxpayers.
In the course of our inquiry, we heard that vulnerable children and young people are often found in and around railway stations. We were therefore surprised to learn that the BTP currently has no targets in relation to child protection. The Department for Transport, the BTPA, the BTP and the charity sector should work together to tackle this emerging issue by examining the available data and reviewing current practice.
What the government said
The government responded on 10 November 2014.
Read the government's response ↗ Read the report ↗ Report an error
How the inquiry ran
Each dot is a dated item listed on this page, from the inquiry's opening on 23 January 2014 to its close on 13 January 2015.
- Oral evidence 2 sessions
- Report 5 Sep 2014
- Government response 10 Nov 2014
What it recommended 0 recommendations · 15 conclusions
1Transport providers pay for specialist railway policing.
Concluded (the committee's words)
Transport providers pay for specialist railway policing. That is a cost-effective arrangement for taxpayers, if the BTP meets the needs of both the railway industry and the travelling public. That requires effective governance and accountability.
2The Secretary of State for Transport must appoint at least one new member of the...
Concluded (the committee's words)
The Secretary of State for Transport must appoint at least one new member of the BTPA in order to comply with the Railways and Transport Safety Act 2003. In addressing that point, the Secretary of State should appoint a member from Passenger Focus, which is the statutory body representing the interests of rail users and is therefore best placed to advance the interests of passengers.
3It is important that the BTP and the BTPA work together effectively, but the BTPA...
Concluded (the committee's words)
It is important that the BTP and the BTPA work together effectively, but the BTPA must be mindful of its obligations to oversee the work of the BTP and to drive performance by setting realistic but challenging targets on crime reduction and crime prevention. The BTPA must avoid any perception that it is too close to the people whom it should be holding to account.
4We are satisfied that the BTP should be a DfT responsibility.
Concluded (the committee's words)
We are satisfied that the BTP should be a DfT responsibility. The DfT must maintain and develop its liaison links with the Home Office to ensure that the specific operational requirements of the BTP are addressed in future Home Office legislation.
5We were convinced by the case for a risk-based approach to policing Britain’s railways.
Concluded (the committee's words)
We were convinced by the case for a risk-based approach to policing Britain’s railways. We were impressed by the BTP’s commitment to tackling crime while minimising delays for the travelling public.
6The BTP has a proven record of successful risk-based, counter-terrorist policing, which depends on accurate...
Concluded (the committee's words)
The BTP has a proven record of successful risk-based, counter-terrorist policing, which depends on accurate and up-to-date intelligence. The BTP must maintain and develop its liaison links with other police forces and the security services to ensure that it has the latest intelligence on major threats.
7Following the reorganisation of TRANSEC, it is important that the DfT maintains sufficient expertise at...
Concluded (the committee's words)
Following the reorganisation of TRANSEC, it is important that the DfT maintains sufficient expertise at a departmental level to address major threats to both the railway and other transport modes.
8There may be value in applying BTP's specialist approach to policing the railways to other...
Concluded (the committee's words)
There may be value in applying BTP's specialist approach to policing the railways to other transport modes, such as aviation. In particular, if the BTP’s funding structure Security on the railway 23 and close working relationship with transport providers were replicated at airports, it could minimise delays, maximise security and reduce the cost of policing for the taxpayer. The DfT should examine the case for expanding the remit of the BTP to include (a) aviation and (b) other modes of transport.
9We welcome the overall decrease in crime on the railway.
Concluded (the committee's words)
We welcome the overall decrease in crime on the railway. However, there is no room for complacency, because the high-level statistics mask increases in serious crimes involving assault, sexual offences and racial harassment and areas where the BTP can improve its performance. The BTPA must fulfil its core function of setting the BTP challenging but achievable targets.
10The DfT, the BTP, Network Rail and train operators must address not only crime, but...
Concluded (the committee's words)
The DfT, the BTP, Network Rail and train operators must address not only crime, but the fear of crime in order to maintain and grow the railway. Visible policing is a proven means of enhancing passengers’ perceptions of security. We therefore welcome the BTP’s plan to deploy more officers on patrolling railway stations at key times. To fulfil its oversight role, the BTPA must monitor the implementation of the BTP’s deployment of more officers at railway stations and examine how this affects passengers’ perceptions of their personal security.
11We approve of the inclusion of compliance with the Secure Stations and Safer Parking schemes...
Concluded (the committee's words)
We approve of the inclusion of compliance with the Secure Stations and Safer Parking schemes as a factor in rail franchise negotiations. However, Secure Stations are of little benefit if passengers cannot get to and from them safely. To secure full value from such investments, improvements to railway station security should be accompanied by complementary improvements to station car parks.
12Accurate data are crucial to, first, defining and, secondly, solving problems.
Concluded (the committee's words)
Accurate data are crucial to, first, defining and, secondly, solving problems. We welcome the BTP’s assurance that it will examine its available data on runaway children and young people. We look forward to seeing the results of its analysis, which will inform not only our inquiry but the work of charities such as Railway Children. If that analysis of the BTP’s data requires significant resources, the DfT should make them available to facilitate the protection of vulnerable children and young people.
13Although the welfare of a runaway young person or child is the long-term responsibility of...
Concluded (the committee's words)
Although the welfare of a runaway young person or child is the long-term responsibility of a local authority safeguarding board, it is the BTP’s short-term responsibility while that young person is in its care. The BTPA must set the BTP appropriate targets in relation to child protection to bring the BTP in line with other police forces and to capture the extent and importance of the BTP’s responsibilities.
14Child protection at railway stations is an emerging issue.
Concluded (the committee's words)
Child protection at railway stations is an emerging issue. We commend Railway Children for raising it, which allowed us to alert the Minister. The DfT should ensure that the BTPA sets the BTP appropriate targets on child protection. In addition, the Minister should convene a seminar involving departmental officials, the BTP, the 24 Security on the railway BTPA, Railway Children and other NGOs and the Transport Select Committee to ensure that policy and practice in this area is fit for purpose.
15We welcome the sharp decline in incidences of cable theft, which has translated into reduced...
Concluded (the committee's words)
We welcome the sharp decline in incidences of cable theft, which has translated into reduced delays for the travelling public and decreased costs for Network Rail.
Evidence
Oral evidence sessions 2
- 23 Jun 2014No witnesses recordedparliament.uk ↗
- 7 Apr 2014No witnesses recordedparliament.uk ↗