British Transport Police Authority

Tuesday 21st October 2014 Written Statements

[The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Transport (Claire Perry)]

My noble Friend, the Minister of State for Transport (Baroness Kramer), has made the following ministerial statement:

I am today publishing the Part 2 report of the Triennial Review of the British Transport Police Authority (BTPA).

The BTPA is the non-departmental public body (NDPB) responsible for ensuring an efficient and effective British Transport Police (BTP) force for rail operators, their staff and passengers.

The review has been progressed in two parts. Part 1 of the review, which was published on 14 July, considered the continuing need for the BTPA’s functions and the case for it to remain an NDPB, and that it is complying with recognised principles of good corporate governance. Part 2 of the review has considered a wider range of issues raised by the industry about the effectiveness of the BTPA in the discharge of its functions and the industry’s ability to influence outcomes.

I am pleased to announce the conclusion of the second part of the review and the publication of the Part 2 report. The Part 2 report explores concerns on the part of the industry in relating the costs incurred to the services delivered by the BTP; and what can be done to reduce costs and to create a more harmonious and productive relationship between the Force, the Authority and its stakeholders. The report reflects the generally positive view of the BTPA’s current leadership and an improving trend in its willingness to act collaboratively and to consult. It also makes a number of recommendations for a sensible way forward for the future, a number of which build on the good progress that the BTPA has already made.

I would like to thank Peter Murphy again for carrying out the wider review with the same thoroughness and competence with which he carried out the first part of the review. I would also like to thank the BTPA for its assistance as well as all the other stakeholders who were involved during the course of the review including those who were part of the Challenge group overseeing the review.

The report is available at: https://www.gov.uk and I have placed copies in Libraries of both Houses.