HC Deb 02 July 2002 vol 388 cc267-8W
Harry Cohen

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what influence the funders of the British Transport police have over its policies, operational matters and personnel; and if he will make a statement. [66446]

Mr. Jamieson

I have been asked to reply.

The duties and responsibilities regarding the organisation, control and governance of the BTP are set out in the British Transport Police Force Scheme ("the scheme"). The current text of the scheme can be found in the Schedule to Statutory Instrument 1994–609. The scheme provides that the British Transport police (BTP) is under the direction and control of the chief constable. The chief constable, who is appointed by the BTP Committee, is responsible for the administration of the BTP in accordance with the directions given to him by the BTP Committee.

The scheme provides that it shall be a duty of the BTP Committee to, among other things:

  1. (i) supervise the administration of the force by the chief constable on such lines as it may from time to time determine, following consultation with the SRA and others, to give him such directions as may from time to time be necessary for that purpose;
  2. (ii) secure the maintenance of an adequate and efficient police service by the force;
  3. (iii) determine the number of persons of each rank in the force; and
  4. (iv) provide and maintain such buildings, structures, premises, vehicles, apparatus, clothing and other equipment as may be required for the purposes of the force.

The scheme also prescribes the composition of the BTP Committee, which is currently nine members including the chairman. The scheme provides that the BTP Committee shall consist of a chairman appointed by the Strategic Rail Authority (SRA), not more than six other members appointed by the SRA and one member each appointed by the operator of the national rail network and London Regional Transport. The scheme further provides that among the six SRA appointed members certain interests must be represented. These are: at least one member who has wide experience of, or who has shown capacity in, the control or administration of police; and a member appointed after consultation with the Rail Passengers' Committee and who has wide experience of the interests and concerns of users of railway services and facilities.

In addition to these two specified required representatives, the SRA has currently appointed two independent members and two representatives of the train operating companies.