Forum Topic

British Transport Police Forum 12/08/09 1600 - 1800

Hello, The next open forum for issues regarding the policing of the London Underground will take place on the 12th August at 16:00.If you have any issues you would like to raise and are unable to logon during that time, please add them to this post, and I will answer them during the course of the session. Kind regards,MarkSgt Mark LawrieHammersmith BTP

Mark Lawrie ● 5731d12 Comments

Thank you all for your comments and questions today - I hope I have answered them to your satisfaction. The next forum will be in a month's time, and there will be a few days notice - much like this one. Thanks again,MarkPS4744 LawrieHammersmith BTP

Mark Lawrie ● 5729d

BTP does have responsbility for the London Overground network. British Transport Police in London is split into London Underground, London North (roughly speaking all the overground railway stations north of the River Thames) and London South (all the overground railway stations south of the River Thames). I am responsible for the Underground. I do however work very closely with the officers responsible for these stations and we regularly have joint initiatives. Did you have a particular query - I'm sure I could assist...

Mark Lawrie ● 5729d

Thanks for putting me straight on that one Mark and glad to hear your colleagues are on the case.Do you have responsibility for the London Overground line?

Andy Jones ● 5729d

Thanks Mark.  Keep up the good work.

Richard Jennings ● 5729d

BTP does not Police the buses in London - this is the responsibility of the MPS. With regards to fare evasion on this particular route, I know from liaison with my MPS colleagues that it is a concern and initiatives are in place to deal with this using TfL Revenue Inspectors. For more information, please contact your local MPS TfL unit which are based at Hammersmith Grove.

Mark Lawrie ● 5729d

Welcome to the forum - you are quite right, there has been an increase in trains running with graffitied train carriages. The reasons for this are three-fold. Firstly, cleaning graffiti is a very expensive operation and with the current financial state of the country, there will be times when it is too expensive to remove a train from service immediately in order to clean it. Also, at this time of year there is a general rise as good weather and the school holidays make graffiti vandals more prevalent. Lastly, in order to maintain an effective service for the following day, trains needed to be "stabled" in certain depots all across London. As a result, if a train is graffitied and the graffiti is not offensive, the train will be taken to its designated depot to minimise disruption to the travelling public and cleaned there. Operation Rhino is a BTP initiative targeting what we call "route crime" which includes graffiti along with trespass and stonethrowing. As it stands Operation Rhino has seen a reduction from last year's levels of stonethrowing and trespass, but at present graffiti is our biggest challenge. Thank you for your post.

Mark Lawrie ● 5729d

Do the BTP have a view on the likely removal of the Bendy Buses from the 207 route? My opinion is that as long as the replacement is less open to fare abuse there will be fewer criminals travelling on them and the buses will be safer. Does TfL consult BTP on matters like this?

Andy Jones ● 5729d

The reduction in graffiti on London Underground in recent years has been very welcome, and it became rare to see a train in service carrying any graffiti.  But lately there seem to be more of them.  I saw a Hammersmith & City train at Great Portland Street last night which had several cars disfigured.  I'm not sure whether a maintenance backlog has been allowed to develop, or whether the graffiti attacks are on the increase again.  Would be interested in your views.

Richard Jennings ● 5729d

Both London Underground Revenue teams and British Transport Police officers work in plain clothes if it would suit a particular revenue enforcement operation. Whenever you are stopped by either a plain clothes Police Officer or Revenue Control Inspector they will identify themselves by showing a metal badge. For LU RCI's this is a silver coloured badge with a number underneath it. For Police Officers this is the force crest and inside is a photocard with the officer's picture, name and warrant number. You are always entitled to ask to see these if you are unsure who you are dealing with. Thanks for your post.

Mark Lawrie ● 5729d

I have just this morning spoken with a Sergeant from the local MPS SNT who has said that he is keen to do a similar forum on a regular basis. I will make him aware of your comments and that it is clearly an avenue that would be advantageous in pursuing. Thank you for your post.

Mark Lawrie ● 5729d

I have a question which is not exactly related to Hammersmith but maybe you know the answer. I was at a tube station in town this morning and the lady who went through the ticket barrier just before me was stopped by a man who asked to see her ticket (the barrier had made a beeping sound). The man was in plain clothes and I was wondering if he was police or was this a scam? The woman showed him her ticket but if he had stopped me I think I would have questioned who he was. Are there plain clothes officers checking people's tickets? How can we be sure they are who they say they are? Thanks.

Lina Leaman ● 5730d

I don't have  question for you regarding the London Underground but I do wonder whether or not the Safer Neighbourhood Teams could do a similar thing on the site in order to scoop up concerns and engage in a way that some find easy. PCSOs could do lilewise could they not. I know not all are on line but at least this could bring more serious people to the table....cliche, sorry!

Vivienne James ● 5731d