10 Facts About British Transport Police

British Transport Police is a national special police force that polices the railway network of England, Wales and Scotland.

In May 2011, the Secretary of State for Transport Philip Hammond announced that British Transport Police would create an armed capability of its own with the added benefit of additional resilience and capacity to the overall UK police armed capability.

British Transport Police is almost wholly funded by the train operating companies, Network Rail, and the London Underground – part of Transport for London.

In May 2011, the Secretary of State for British Transport Police announced with agreement from the Home Secretary that approval had been given for BTP to develop a firearms capability following a submission to government in December by BTP.

Under s 31 of the Railways and Transport Safety Act 2003, British Transport Police officers have "all the power and privileges of a constable" when:.

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Constables of the BTP are required by S 24 of the Railways and Transport Safety Act 2003 to make one of the following attestations, depending on the jurisdiction in which they have been appointed:.

British Transport Police first recruited special constables in a trial based in the North West Area in 1995, and this was expanded to the whole of the UK.

Under the terms of the Railways and Transport Safety Act 2003 and the Anti-terrorism, Crime and Security Act 2001, BTP special constables have identical jurisdiction and powers to BTP regular constables; primary jurisdiction on any railway in Great Britain and a conditional jurisdiction in any other police force area.

British Transport Police are the only special police force that employ police community support officers .

Section 28 of the Railways and Transport Safety Act 2003 allows the BTP Chief Constable to recruit PCSOs and designate powers to them using the Police Reform Act 2002 which previously only extended to chief constables or commissioners of territorial police forces.